Coping with complicated situations: mental practice and simulator training to improve performance in adverse situations

INTERVENTION: The intervention group will be instructed to apply a mental practice protocol for a complex laparoscopic procedure for surgical training, whereas the control group will undergo only conventional surgical education. CONDITION: Reducing stress and improving surgical performance ; Mental and Behavioural Disorders ; Stress, not elsewhere classified PRIMARY OUTCOME: Difference in routine surgical performance (OSATS) between the mental imagery trained and untrained residents SECONDARY OUTCOME: 1. Baseline surgeon stress levels during the simulation; 2. Acute stress reaction; 3. Overall subjective stress level after the simulation; 4. Differences in Non‐Technical Skills (NOTECHS) scores INCLUSION CRITERIA: General surgery residents at the post‐graduate year (PGY‐3) level or above