Surgical Residents’ Perception of Simulation Training

Abstract

Laparoscopic surgical simulation is a valuable and validated training tool. We examined its perception and use among general surgery residents at our institution. Questionnaires were sent to all 29 general surgery residents with a 93 per cent response rate. Residents were divided into junior residents (JR; PGY 1–2) and senior residents (SR; PGY 3–5). JR spent more hours in the simulation center and completed their assigned tasks faster than SR (14 vs 52 days). Thirty-three per cent of SR felt that simulation training should be limited to JR in contrast to only 8 per cent of JR. However, 93 per cent of residents agreed that the program improved their laparoscopic skills. Most residents feel that simulation training is essential and mandatory in current surgical residency (75% of JR and 67% of SR) and needs to be extended to open surgery (67% JR and 60% SR). Seventy-five per cent of JR, but only 13 per cent of SR, feel that residents’ involvement in procedures should be based on performance in surgical simulation. JR ranked simulation training first in useful ways to learn new skills, whereas SR ranked proctorship highest. JR have a higher use of simulation training and a higher perception of its utility.

Cognitive Training for Robotic Arm-Assisted Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty through a Surgical Simulation Mobile Application

“…CTA is an established technique that can be used to sort and simplify a complex surgical procedure into a stepwise simulated tutorial that can be used in a preoperative rehearsal fashion. 11,[13][14][15][16][17] While pretrial or warm-up psychomotor training has previously been shown to improve skill proficiency in follow-up testing, 18 the question remains whether "surgical rehearsal" through simulated cognitive training improves comprehension and command of a surgical sequence compared with a traditional paper-based learning program. This randomized comparative study demonstrated that a surgical simulation app, which uses a CTA framework and VR platform, was better than traditional paper-based learning for both immediate posttest performance and long-term information recall.…”

Laparoscopic suturing learning curve in an open versus closed box trainer

“…The importance of simulation training of MIS skills is stressed by residents themselves, and in surveys, they agree that simulation training is essential and should be obligatory [ 15 – 17 ]. However, voluntary simulation training remains a challenge.…”

“…But when novices first start training of their basic MIS skills, they have to adjust to all these challenges at the same time making acquiring these skills a notoriously difficult task. Lack of training due to lack of time and motivation is a known problem, even though it is generally agreed among residents that simulation training of MIS skills is essential and should be obligatory [ 15 – 17 ].…”

Can Simulation Help to Answer the Demand for Echocardiography Education?

“…74 Anesthesia senior residents and year 1 to 2 level surgical residents who have been exposed to simulation training from the start of their residencies are much more likely to use their institution's simulation center than year 3 to 5 level residents who began simulation training after having spent some time in the operating room. 75,76 This is likely the result of a disaffection for the unreality of simulation compared with the reality of the operating room. Sufficient grounds possibly to introduce simulation earlier into training programs?…”