Telementoring of in-home real-time laparoscopy using whatsapp messenger: An innovative teaching tool during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cohort study

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has decreased worldwide surgical activity, thus impairing the training of surgical residents. As a coping strategy, we opted for laparoscopic simulation with endotrainer; however, due to social distancing rules, a face-to-face tutoring training method is unfeasible. In this context telementoring using WhatsApp® Messenger (owned by Facebook Inc., Menlo Park, CA) with a Smartphone aims to train surgical residents in laparoscopy from their homes during the pandemic. METHODS: Trainers and surgical residents who were at home participated in this study. They used endotrainers with Smartphone cameras and were trained by video calls using WhatsApp. The baseline and final score of intracorporeal knotting was measured, according to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) methodology, measuring the difference in means with the paired t-test. Recommendations for virtual surgical tutoring were followed and user satisfaction was measured using the Likert scale. RESULTS: 40 surgical residents participated. The average distance between the mentor and the trainee was 12.87 km. Average bandwidth was 32.5 Megabits per second (Mbits/s), latency was 424.5 ms (ms), good quality image with immediate feedback was achieved. The statistically significant difference between basal and final measurement was 23.7 points (p < 0.001). All participants found telementoring a good educational tool. CONCLUSION: Smartphone telementoring using WhatsApp® Messenger is an effective educational tool for acquiring laparoscopic skills with a statistically significant difference. This type of training represents a new teaching resource in the light of the recommendations of social distancing during a pandemic.