DIY vs. validated surgical trainers: what's the real difference for laparoscopic residents?

If you’ve ever tried to squeeze in practice before an FLS exam, only to find the sim lab fully booked or locked, you’re not alone. Every laparoscopic resident knows the frustration of being motivated to train but blocked by access, schedules, and systems that were not designed around our reality.

What’s the best way to actually get better? DIY trainers? Validated systems? Something else? Let’s have an honest conversation about it!

The uncomfortable truth: not all simulators are created equal

Here is the part nobody tells you during orientation; the tool you choose directly affects:

• How fast you learn
• How much you retain
• Whether skills transfer into the OR

Research states that not all simulators produce the same outcomes; some drive rapid gains, others help you retain skills long-term, and some offer only short-lived improvements (Stefanidis et al., 2005). 

Understanding the evidence behind both DIY and validated systems helps you get the most out of every minute you spend practicing. Your training tool needs to work with your constraints, not against them.

DIY surgical trainers: don’t let anyone tell you they’re useless

Despite the common assumption that low-cost box trainers are a temporary solution, research suggests otherwise. If used consistently it can lead to meaningful skill development. 

Studies have also demonstrated that residents using home box trainers often practice more frequently than those limited to lab-based systems, and this repetition leads to meaningful improvements in tasks like peg transfer, suturing, and depth perception (Yiasemidou et al., 2017). 

Are they validated? No.
Are they perfect? No.
But do they help you get better? Absolutely.

Validated surgical trainers: structure builds competence

Validated simulators were built for one reason: to give you repeatable, measurable, transferable skills.

They provide a clear pathway for residents to progress from basic psychomotor skills to more complex laparoscopic tasks, and they do so using performance metrics that have been shown to predict real clinical ability.

“In my experience, simulation training gave me more confidence in the operating room. It allowed me to complete several steps of surgical procedures before operating a patient.”- Resident feedback on validated surgical simulators (Laxague, 2021).

Residents who follow validated, proficiency-based training maintain a large percentage of their performance even after long gaps, with studies showing retention rates of 83% to 100% over two years following structured FLS-style curricula (Mashaud et al., 2010). 

The catch?

Validated systems usually mean:

• you need access to an institutional lab
• during specific hours
• competing with everyone else
• using equipment that costs more than your annual salary

It’s validation without accessibility and that is the bottleneck.

The honest takeaway: you need both frequency and structure

When you look at the evidence across all training systems, the takeaway is clear:

• DIY box trainers help you build early skills and practice more often.
• Validated trainers help you refine and retain those skills.
• Your practice strategy determines how productive each session will be.

You need to choose tools that match your goals, your schedule, and the specific skills you want to improve. For many residents, that means starting with whatever is available and eventually moving toward a validated system that supports long-term growth, reliable feedback, and consistent practice on your own terms.

Here’s how you can put the evidence into action:

• Start with 15 minutes a day with short, frequent sessions on a DIY trainer to build muscle memory. It’ll be faster than cramming in practice before exams.
• Track your progress by using a timer or taking a video of yourself. Even without formal metrics, self-assessment will help you spot inefficiencies and improve precision.
• Practice with a fellow resident and review each other’s performance. This will help you refine your skills in a low-pressure environment.
• Layer in validated practice during lab sessions with structured exercises and measurable benchmarks to ensure home practice translates into real operative skills.
• Think long-term, focusing on consistent, distributed practice to build lasting habits and steady skill development.

Bridging the gap between DIY and validated training

Even with the best DIY or validated trainers, residents often face gaps: limited lab access, high costs, and difficulty practicing consistently. What’s needed is a system that combines the accessibility of home practice with the structure and feedback of validated training.
Laptitude addresses this gap by providing a low-cost, validated, at-home laparoscopic training solution. It allows you to practice within your schedule, track your progress, and perform targeted exercises that reinforce skill retention and transfer to the operating room.

If this way of learning sounds interesting to you, join the Laptitude waitlist.

Closing thoughts

DIY trainers give you access. Validated systems give you structure. Until now, residents had to choose between them. Laptitude brings the best of both worlds, guiding skill development and retention every step of the way, making it easier for residents to practice smart, consistent, and effective training on their own terms.