Training validity of laparoscopic virtual reality simulator

Objective To evaluate the validity of laparoscopic basic skills training on the virtual reality simulator.Methods 30 medical students and 22 urology doctors (less than 10 procedures performed) were enrolled for laparoscopic visual reality training from February 2012 to October 2012.Each participant was tested in 5 days by laparoscopic tasks (peg transfer,electrocautery,patten cutting and knot tying) of virtual reality simulator.The scores before and after the training were recorded and analyzed.Participants filled out questionnaires regarding their previous experiences,opinions of the usefulness of laparoscopic visual reality training before and after the training.Results 30 medical students after the training and training before,the time consumption in peg transfer (110.3-±25.6 s and 198.7±52.3 s,P=0.000),electrocautery (233.2±39.7 s and 484.6±157.6 s,P=0.000),patten cutting(118.6±35.1 s and 272.3±75.6,P=0.000),knot tying (80.2±38.3 s and 280.6±110.1 s,P=0.000) and area of accuracy error (58.0±34.8mm2 and 92.4±56.1mm2,P=0.000),while improved electrocautery efficiency (90.4±5.0) ％ and (83.5±6.4％,P =0.000,suturing accuracy rate (92.5 ± 16.3) ％ and (68.5 ± 24.2) ％,P =0.000 and GRS scores (25.2± 1.9 & 7.5± 1.2,P =0.000) after 5-day training.22 urology doctors after the training and training before,the time consumption in peg transfer (103.1 ± 16.7 s and 171.4± 42.6 s,P =0.004),electrocautery (210.3±17.4 s and 397.0±129.8 s,P=0.027),patten cutting (97.1±9.6 s and 311.6±171.6 s,P=0.000),knot tying (84.5±29.3 s and 328.1±128.8 s,P=0.002) and area of accuracy error (7.2±3.6 mm2 and 30.1 ± 18.8 mm2,P =0.009),while improved electrocautery efficiency (91.7 ± 7.3) ％ and (81.4 ±9.1) ％,P =0.004,suturing accuracy rate (96.0± 7.2) ％ and (69.9± 22.2) ％,P =0.006 and GRS scores (20.0± 1.1 and 13.8± 1.5,P =0.000) after 5-day training.At the end of training,most of the participants rated laparoscopic virtual reality training as " obviously helpful" or " very helpful".Conclusions Laparoscopic virtual reality training could be helpful to improve the laparoscopic basic skills. Key words: Laparoscopy;  Computer simulation;  Medical education;  Surgical skill training