title: Simulators and virtual reality in surgical education.
abstract: This article explores the pros and cons of virtual reality simulators, their abilities to train and assess surgical skills, and their potential future applications. Computer-based virtual reality simulators and more conventional box trainers are compared and contrasted. The virtual reality simulator provides objective assessment of surgical skills and immediate feedback further to enhance training. With this ability to provide standardized, unbiased assessment of surgical skills, the virtual reality trainer has the potential to be a tool for selecting, instructing, certifying, and recertifying gynecologists.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Room 121 A1C, 4940 Eastern Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. bchou1@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Handa
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D017145:Models, Educational; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014584:User-Computer Interface