The future of patient safety: Surgical trainees accept virtual reality as a new training tool

BACKGROUND: The use of virtual reality (VR) has gained increasing interest to acquire laparoscopic skills outside the operating theatre and thus increasing patients' safety. The aim of this study was to evaluate trainees' acceptance of VR for assessment and training during a skills course and at their institution. METHODS: All 735 surgical trainees of the International Gastrointestinal Surgery Workshop 2006-2008, held in Davos, Switzerland, were given a minimum of 45 minutes for VR training during the course. Participants' opinion on VR was analyzed with a standardized questionnaire. RESULTS: Fivehundred-twenty-seven participants (72%) from 28 countries attended the VR sessions and answered the questionnaires. The possibility of using VR at the course was estimated as excellent or good in 68%, useful in 21%, reasonable in 9% and unsuitable or useless in 2%. If such VR simulators were available at their institution, most course participants would train at least one hour per week (46%), two or more hours (42%) and only 12% wouldn't use VR. Similarly, 63% of the participants would accept to operate on patients only after VR training and 55% to have VR as part of their assessment. CONCLUSION: Residents accept and appreciate VR simulation for surgical assessment and training. The majority of the trainees are motivated to regularly spend time for VR training if accessible

Incorporation of proficiency criteria for basic laparoscopic skills training: How does it work?

Background - It is desirable that surgical trainees are proficient in basic laparoscopic motor skills (eye–hand coordination). The present study evaluated the use of predefined proficiency criteria on a basic virtual reality (VR) simulator in preparation for a laparoscopic course on animal models. Methods - Twenty-eight surgical trainees who enrolled for a basic laparoscopic course were trained on a basic (VR) simulator until their performance met predefined criteria. Two different criteria were defined, based on the performance of experienced laparoscopic surgeons on the simulator. In the first group (n = 10), the criteriawere set at the 75th percentile of the laparoscopic surgeons’ performance on the simulator and in the second group, at the 50th percentile (n = 18). Training time and number of attempts needed until the performance criteria were met were measured. Results - In the first group, training time needed to pass the test ranged from 29 to 77 min (median: 63 min) with a range of 43–90 attempts (median 61 attempts). In the second group, training time ranged from 38 to 180 min (median 80 min) with a range of 55–233 attempts (median 95 attempts). Experience with assisting or performing laparoscopic procedures varied widely and was not correlated with the training time and number of attempts needed to pass the criteria. Conclusions - The performance criteria for training laparoscopic motor skills on a (VR) simulator resulted in wide variation between surgical trainees in time and number of attempts needed to pass the criteria. This demands training courses with a flexible time span tailored to the individual level of the trainee.Biomechanical EngineeringMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin