Yiasemidou, M, de Siqueira, J, Tomlinson, J et al. (3 more authors) (2017) “Take-home” box trainers are an effective alternative to virtual reality simulators. Journal of Surgical Research, 213. pp. 69-74. ISSN 0022-4804
Abstract
Background: Practice on Virtual Reality simulators (VRS) have been shown to improve surgical performance. However, VRS are expensive and usually housed in surgical skills centres that may be inaccessible at times convenient for surgical trainees to practice. Conversely, box trainers are inexpensive and can be used anywhere at anytime. This study assesses “take-home” Box Trainers (BT) as an alternative to VRS. Methods: After baseline assessments (two simulated laparoscopic cholecystectomies, one on a VRS and one on a BT) 25 surgical trainees were randomised to two groups. Trainees were asked to practice 3 basic laparoscopic tasks for 6 weeks (BT group using a “take-home” box trainer; VR group using VRS in clinical skills centres). After the practice period all performed two LC, one on a VRS and one on a BT; (i.e. post-training assessment). VRS provided metrics (total time (TT), number of movements (NOM) instrument tip path length (PL)) and expert video assessment of cholecystectomy in a BT (GOALS score) were recorded. Performance during pre- and post-training assessment was compared. Results: The BT group showed a significant improvement for all VRS metrics (p=0.008) and the efficiency category of GOALS score (p=0.03). Only TT improved in the VRS group and none of the GOALS categories demonstrated a statistically significant improvement after training. Finally, the improvement in VRS metrics in the BT group was significantly greater than in the VR group (TT p=0.005, NOM p=0.042, PL p=0.031) although there were no differences in the GOALS scores between the groups. Conclusion: This study suggests that a basic “take-home” BTs is a suitable alternative to VRSs.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2017 Elsevier Inc. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Journal of Surgical Research. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | simulation; box-trainers; virtual reality |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Inst of Biomed & Clin Sciences (LIBACS) (Leeds) > Trans Anaesthetics & Surgical Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 02 Mar 2017 13:00 |
Last Modified: | 01 Mar 2018 01:38 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jss.2017.02.038 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.jss.2017.02.038 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:113112 |