No abstract

Objective: In this paper, we evaluate face, content and construct validity of the da Vinci Surgical Skills Simulator (dVSSS) across 3 surgical disciplines. Methods: In total, 48 participants from urology, gynecology and general surgery participated in the study as novices (0 robotic cases performed), intermediates (1-74) or experts (≥75). Each participant completed 9 tasks (Peg board level 2, match board level 2, needle targeting, ring and rail level 2, dots and needles level 1, suture sponge level 2, energy dissection level 1, ring walk level 3 and tubes). The Mimic Technologies software scored each task from 0 (worst) to 100 (best) using several predetermined metrics. Face and content validity were evaluated by a questionnaire administered after task completion. Wilcoxon test was used to perform pair wise comparisons. Results: The expert group comprised of 6 attending surgeons. The intermediate group included 4 attending surgeons, 3 fellows and 5 residents. The novices included 1 attending surgeon, 1 fellow, 13 residents, 13 medical students and 2 research assistants. The median number of robotic cases performed by experts and intermediates were 250 and 9, respectively. The median overall realistic score (face validity) was 8/10. Experts rated the usefulness of the simulator as a training tool for residents (content validity) as 8.5/10. For construct validity, experts outperformed novices in all 9 tasks (p < 0.05). Intermediates outperformed novices in 7 of 9 tasks (p < 0.05); there were no significant differences in the energy dissection and ring walk tasks. Finally, experts scored significantly better than intermediates in only 3 of 9 tasks (matchboard, dots and needles and energy dissection) (p < 0.05). Conclusions: This study confirms the face, content and construct validities of the dVSSS across urology, gynecology and general surgery. Larger sample size and more complex tasks are needed to further differentiate intermediates from experts. IntroductionThe American College of Surgeons has recommended simulation-based training for surgical trainees to increase proficiency and patient safety in light of recent restrictions to trainee work hours and increased concerns over patient safety.1 The first validated low-fidelity objective training and assessment tool for basic laparoscopic skills is the McGill Inanimate System for Training and Evaluation of Laparoscopic Skills (MISTELS), which has been adapted by the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) program.2 Currently, FLS certification is required for candidates applying for certification from the American Board of Surgery. Furthermore, construct validity of MISTELS has been established for urology trainees and attending urologists.3 Recently, the American Urological Association's Committee on Laparoscopy, Robotic and New Technology modified the original MISTELS/FLS program into a more urocentric curriculum, the Basic Laparoscopic Urologic Surgery (BLUS) skills curriculu...

No abstract

No abstract

a male:female ratio of 1.9 : 1. Similarly sized tumours were identified in each time group [group 1 (1993-1997), 54.8 mm; group 2 (1998-2002), 52.0 mm; group 3 (2003-2007), 52.2 mm, P = 0.6].• Pathological stage II disease decreased from 18.1 to 11.1%, but stage III disease showed an increase from 13.9 to 21.5% over that time period ( P = 0.02).• The proportion of stage I and stage IV disease has remained relatively the same. There has been a statistically significant upward histological migration for the papillary subtype from 1.3 to 10.2% ( P = 0.01).• There has also been an increasing representation of Fuhrman grade III tumours over time, from 17.6 to 30.8%, and a decreasing proportion of Fuhrman grade I tumours from 16.2 to 7.1% ( P = 0.03).• There was a decrease in the incidence of benign tumours originally thought to be malignant on preoperative investigations, from 10% in group 1 to 4% in group 3 ( P = 0.03). CONCLUSION• The recent US phenomenon of migration towards earlier-stage, smaller RCCs as well as increased representation of benign tumours was not observed in the present study. The results of the present study, however, show an upward histological migration for papillary RCCs and an increasing representation of more aggressive Fuhrman grade III tumours.