title: Operating room introduction for the novice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the implementation of a theater induction curriculum through a didactic lecture, an online Second Life operating room, and a simulated operating suite.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty operating room novices were randomized into 4 groups: control (n = 15), didactic lecture (n = 15), Second Life (n = 15), and simulated operating suite (n = 15). The study followed a pretest and posttest design with a training intervention between operating room attendances. Outcome measures were knowledge, skills, and attitudes, measured using observed behavior and a self-report scale, with knowledge further assessed using multiple-choice questionnaires.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The lecture, Second Life, and simulated operating suite groups demonstrated significant improvements in all outcome measures. After the intervention, these 3 groups had significantly higher behavior (P < .001), self-report (P < .05), and knowledge (P < .05) scores than the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates the value of delivering a theater induction curriculum for operating room preparation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgery, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, London, UK. v.patel20@imperial.ac.uk
authors.forename: Vishal
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Patel
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Osinibi
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Sonal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Ara
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Darzi
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D009873:Operating Rooms; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface