Training at ESU Urology Boot Camp

Residents across Europe gain technical skills training in ESU UBC

Dr. Tiago Ribeiro De Oliveira Armed Forces Hospital Lisbon University Hospital Lisbon (PT)

tiagoribeirooliveira@ sapo.pt

Co-authors: Prof. Ben Van Cleynenbreugel (BE), Mr. Chandra Shekhar Biyani (GB)

Over the last few years, the European School of Urology (ESU) has developed the Standardisation in Surgical Education (SISE) programme, a collaborative venture that aims to implement a comprehensive approach to all training activities within the ESU. This encompasses a series of structured, standardised and validated training curricula, including a laparoscopic urology training (LUS) curriculum, an endoscopic stone treatment (EST) curriculum and a transurethral training (TUT) curriculum, targeting different trainee levels to facilitate training from basic to advanced skill levels. The first step in the SISE programme is the ESU Urology Boot Camp (ESU UBC).

Developed and coordinated by the ESU Boot Camp Organising Committee (Prof. Ben Van Cleynenbreugel, Mr. Chandra Shekhar Biyani and Dr. Tiago Ribeiro de Oliveira), the ESU UBC is a standardised course for first-year residents, comprising a full day of intensive hands-on training organised into separate training modules with the aim of providing high-quality technical skills training within the framework of a standardised and integrated ESU training programme. The objective is to enable every Urology resident in Europe to master the necessary basic technical skills for the most frequent urological procedures before they begin working with patients to ultimately increase the quality of urological care provided.

The course is divided into four modules: three core modules dedicated to laparoscopy, upper urinary tract endoscopy (semi-rigid ureteroscopy and flexible ureterorenoscopy) and transurethral resection (of bladder and prostate), and an additional coursespecific module dedicated to the lower urinary tract which includes rigid and flexible cystoscopy. Residents can then choose from other techniques such as urethral catheterisation, suprapubic catheter placement, scrotal examination and circumcision.

One of the most important hallmarks of the ESU Urology Boot Camp is the 1:1:1 training model, where each trainee has a dedicated training station and an experienced trainer for the entire duration of each module to maximise their learning experience. Using a series of different low- and high-fidelity models and state-of-the-art urological equipment, trainees participate in intensive hands-on technical training in the most common urological procedures. This improves not only their skills but also their confidence in performing the procedures independently.

ESU Urology Boot Camp Belgium 2022

After a two-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the second edition of the ESU UBC in Belgium took place on April 27th at the ORSI Academy in Melle. The day before the course, in collaboration with the EAU Section of UroTechnology (ESUT) and the EAU Section of Urolithiasis (EULIS), an Advanced ESU "Train the Trainer" course was offered to 16 urologists from Belgium, Poland, Portugal, Turkey and the United Kingdom. In line with the first "Train the Trainer" course, a series of lectures were given on subjects such as non-technical skills training, adult learning models and proficiency-based progression by renowned experts Mr. Chandra Shekhar Biyani, Mr. Craig McIlhenny and Prof. Anthony Gallagher. After the theoretical part of the course, the trainers had the opportunity to put into practice their newly acquired teaching skills in a hands-on training session provided to undergraduate medical students, in which they were evaluated by the course faculty and other expert trainers. This team of international trainers became the faculty of the Second Belgian ESU UBC, training 16 Urology residents from Belgium.

ESU Urology Boot Camp Serbia 2022

Following the success of the first edition in 2021, the European School of Urology and the Serbian Association of Urology organised the second edition of the ESU UBC in Zlatibor, Serbia on May 19th before the Annual Serbian Urological Symposium. In line with the procedures established by the ESU Boot Camp Organising Committee, a specific "Train the Trainer" course was organised with the national faculty a day before the ESU UBC, in order to optimise and standardise training activities.

A total of 12 residents from Serbia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina had the opportunity to participate in the second ESU UBC in Serbia, supporting the Serbian Association of Urology’s objective of extending all training opportunities to neighbouring countries. The quality of the models and equipment, the motivation and competence of the faculty, and the use of ESU’s validated training modules ensured the success of the course for all participants.

ESU Urology Boot Camp Lithuania 2022

On May 26th, immediately before the EAU Baltic Meeting in Vilnius, the first ESU UBC was organised in Lithuania. In line with the ESU’s collaboration with the Urological Associations of the Baltic countries, the ESU UBC enlisted experienced trainers from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Complying with the implementation strategy of the ESU Boot Camp Organising Committee, a specific "Train the Trainer" course took place before the ESU UBC to homogenise the training offered.

A total of 8 residents from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania had the opportunity to undergo technical skills training. The course was a success due to the enthusiasm of the faculty, the quality of the equipment and the consistency of the curriculum being in line with the broader approach of the SISE programme.

ESU Urology Boot Camp Austria 2022

On June 16th, immediately before the annual residents course of the Austrian School of Urology, the first Austrian ESU UBC was organised in Kals am Grosßglokner.

Intensive hands-on technical skills training was given to 8 residents from Austria. As with other editions of the ESU UBC, the course was split into 4 modules, providing training in laparoscopy, semi-rigid ureteroscopy, flexible ureterorenoscopy, transurethral resection of bladder and prostate, rigid and flexible cystoscopy, circumcision, suprapubic catheter placement and scrotal examination.

ESU Urology Boot Camp programme

In addition to the four courses organised so far in 2022, the ESU Boot Camp Organising Committee is coordinating the first ESU UBC in Greece (October 6th in Athens), the first ESU EBC in Poland (November 18th in Bydgoszcz) and the fourth ESU UBC in Portugal (November 19th in Lisbon). By 2023, the ESU Boot Camp Working Group plans to expand the programme to Germany, Italy and Spain. Their broader aspiration is to organise an ESU UBC in every European country on an annual basis, so that every first-year Urology resident has the opportunity to acquire the necessary technical skills to perform the most common urological procedures.

Boot camp residents and trainers in Austria

Impression from training at the Boot Camp in Lithuania Impression from training at the Boot Camp in Belgium

Testimonial from a Boot Camp participant

Dr. Gustas Sasnauskas (1st year urology resident from Lithuania) "The course was very useful for me as a first-year resident. I think it is important to get the first experience of using specific urologic instruments in an artificial environment, rather than on a patient. After the course, I feel more comfortable and more confident doing endoscopic procedures in my clinical practice."

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