TY - JOUR

T1 - Effect of virtual reality training on laparoscopic surgery

T2 - randomised controlled trial

AU - Larsen, Christian R

AU - Soerensen, Jette L

AU - Grantcharov, Teodor P

AU - Dalsgaard, Torur

AU - Schouenborg, Lars

AU - Ottosen, Christian

AU - Schroeder, Torben V

AU - Ottesen, Bent S

PY - 2009/5/14

Y1 - 2009/5/14

N2 - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of virtual reality training on an actual laparoscopic operation.DESIGN: Prospective randomised controlled and blinded trial.SETTING: Seven gynaecological departments in the Zeeland region of Denmark.PARTICIPANTS: 24 first and second year registrars specialising in gynaecology and obstetrics.INTERVENTIONS: Proficiency based virtual reality simulator training in laparoscopic salpingectomy and standard clinical education (controls).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was technical performance assessed by two independent observers blinded to trainee and training status using a previously validated general and task specific rating scale. The secondary outcome measure was operation time in minutes.RESULTS: The simulator trained group (n=11) reached a median total score of 33 points (interquartile range 32-36 points), equivalent to the experience gained after 20-50 laparoscopic procedures, whereas the control group (n=10) reached a median total score of 23 (22-27) points, equivalent to the experience gained from fewer than five procedures (P<0.001). The median total operation time in the simulator trained group was 12 minutes (interquartile range 10-14 minutes) and in the control group was 24 (20-29) minutes (P<0.001). The observers' inter-rater agreement was 0.79.CONCLUSION: Skills in laparoscopic surgery can be increased in a clinically relevant manner using proficiency based virtual reality simulator training. The performance level of novices was increased to that of intermediately experienced laparoscopists and operation time was halved. Simulator training should be considered before trainees carry out laparoscopic procedures.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00311792.

AB - OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of virtual reality training on an actual laparoscopic operation.DESIGN: Prospective randomised controlled and blinded trial.SETTING: Seven gynaecological departments in the Zeeland region of Denmark.PARTICIPANTS: 24 first and second year registrars specialising in gynaecology and obstetrics.INTERVENTIONS: Proficiency based virtual reality simulator training in laparoscopic salpingectomy and standard clinical education (controls).MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure was technical performance assessed by two independent observers blinded to trainee and training status using a previously validated general and task specific rating scale. The secondary outcome measure was operation time in minutes.RESULTS: The simulator trained group (n=11) reached a median total score of 33 points (interquartile range 32-36 points), equivalent to the experience gained after 20-50 laparoscopic procedures, whereas the control group (n=10) reached a median total score of 23 (22-27) points, equivalent to the experience gained from fewer than five procedures (P<0.001). The median total operation time in the simulator trained group was 12 minutes (interquartile range 10-14 minutes) and in the control group was 24 (20-29) minutes (P<0.001). The observers' inter-rater agreement was 0.79.CONCLUSION: Skills in laparoscopic surgery can be increased in a clinically relevant manner using proficiency based virtual reality simulator training. The performance level of novices was increased to that of intermediately experienced laparoscopists and operation time was halved. Simulator training should be considered before trainees carry out laparoscopic procedures.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00311792.

KW - Adult

KW - Clinical Competence

KW - Computer Simulation

KW - Denmark

KW - Education, Medical, Graduate

KW - Female

KW - General Surgery

KW - Gynecology

KW - Humans

KW - Laparoscopy

KW - Male

KW - Prospective Studies

KW - Teaching

KW - Time Factors

KW - Journal Article

KW - Multicenter Study

KW - Randomized Controlled Trial

KW - Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

U2 - 10.1136/bmj.b1802

DO - 10.1136/bmj.b1802

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 19443914

VL - 338

SP - b1802

JO - The BMJ

JF - The BMJ

SN - 0959-8146

ER -