An integrated laparoscopic simulator (i-Sim) to develop surgical skills outside the operating theatre: a novel means to improve training facilities in the UK.
BACKGROUND
Minimal access surgery (MAS) is increasingly replacing open surgery. However, access to training in laparoscopy remains lacking. We propose the use of a novel and integrated laparoscopic simulator (i-Sim) to develop surgical skills.


OBJECTIVE
This pilot study set out to evaluate access to laparoscopic training facilities in the UK. It was then examined whether i-Sim might be a better alternative to the mannequin/box trainer with stack system.


METHODS
Questionnaires were sent to consultants and trainees in urology, general surgery and gynaecology to survey current access to laparoscopic training in the UK. A further group was requested to give feature scores for i-Sim compared to a conventional mannequin/box trainer with stack system.


RESULTS
Of those with laparoscopic experience, 36% believed they had opportunities in laparoscopic training only during operations while 17% felt they had no access to training facilities for laparoscopy. Overall, 93% thought a laparoscopic simulator would be useful for training. In the second survey, feature (set-up, image quality, user-friendliness, ease to change tasks, portability, different locations, storage) scores were given; i-Sim scored a significantly higher (p<0.0001) satisfaction rating than the mannequin/box trainer with stack system.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a paucity of regular training facilities for MAS in the UK and there was an exceptionally strong agreement among our participants that regular training on laparoscopic simulators would be useful. Additionally, i-Sim offers the possibility of a readily accessible alternative to current training approaches to laparoscopy.
Singh
Paras B
PB
Department of Urology, Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Fulwood, Preston PR2 9HT, UK. parassingh@btinternet.com
Saw
Ngiaw K
NK
Mokete
Moeketsi
M
Martin
Francis L
FL
Matanhelia
Shyam S
SS
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018961:Educational Technology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008348:Manikins; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom; D014584:User-Computer Interface