Fig. 4

Exercise 3 (laparoscopic forceps handling and bi-manual coordination). The participants’ ability to handle laparoscopic forceps simultaneously with the DH and the NDH was evaluated by measuring their ability to grasp pre-defined objects with the DH and to grasp them again with the NDH and transport, position and introduce them into pre-defined targets in the LASTT model (a). In Study 1 (b), participants specifically recruited for the study performed 30 consecutive repetitions so that the learning curves and the construct validity could be evaluated. The time required for transporting six objects was recorded and median values (interquartile range) of each repetition are presented. Participants were classified as novices (green symbols) or experts (blue symbols). In Study 2 (c), large-scale testing was conducted during skill evaluation workshops at international gynaecological meetings so that the construct validity could be evaluated. The numbers of objects transported in 2 min were recorded, and median values (minimum, interquartile range, maximum) of triplicate observations are presented