- Madan AK, Frantzides CT, Tebbit CL, Quiros RM; Participant’s opinions of laparoscopic trainers during basic laparoscopic training courses; Am Journal of Surgery, 2005; 189:758-61.
- Various devices are utilized to aid in the education of laparoscopic skills ranging from physical trainers (e.g. LTS2000) to virtual reality trainers (e.g. MIST-VR).
- This investigation tested the hypothesis that participants would prefer either the LTS2000 or the MIST-VR.
- Methodology:
- 50 preclinical medical students volunteered for this study.
- All underwent a porcine laboratory to get acquainted with basic laparoscopic tasks.
- The students were then divided into three groups by method of training:
- Group A: 18, a virtual reality trainer (MIST-VR)
- Group B: 14, an inanimate box trainer (LTS 2000)
- Group C: 18, both trainers
- Each group participated in ten laboratories with the assigned trainer(s).
- After completion of the laboratories, all students underwent a similar porcine laboratory.
- During this second laboratory, opinions of each trainer and specific skills were ascertained from each student.
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- No statistical difference was seen between Group A and B when asked if their specific trainer:
- helped their skills
- was realistic
- helped in the animal laboratory
- was interesting
- When Group C was asked the same questions about each trainer, no statistical difference was seen except:
- 47% thought the MIST-VR was not realistic as opposed to 0% thought the LTS 2000 was not realistic (p < 0.003).
- The level of difficulty of each task correlated with how much the specific task helped in development of skills (p < 0.0001).
- In Group C:
- 89% of the participants thought the LTS2000 helped more that the MIST-VR
- 56% thought the LTS2000 was more interesting than the MIST-VR.
- 83% of students in Group C chose LTS2000 when asked to pick only one trainer.
- Conclusion: While virtual reality trainers make have some advantages, most participants feel that the LTS2000 helps more (in preparing for porcine surgery), is more interesting, and should be chosen over virtual reality trainers if only one trainer is allowed.
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