title: [Evaluation of surgical skills in medical students using a virtual simulator].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of virtual simulators together with hospital practicals during undergraduate training can improve basic surgical skills, and may even be an important motivating focal point. The aim of this work is to determine the endoscopy skill level and its learning curve in three stages within the Medical degree (second, fourth, and sixth year) using a virtual simulator.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Lapsim simulator with 7 basic modular exercises was used. Twenty four students (8 second, 8 fourth, and 8 sixth year) were subjected to a training program (basic test plus 3 sessions), and an examination at 30 days. A control group (n=24) from each year were subjected to 2 examinations with an interval of 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All the groups improved significantly after training, and this was maintained in all the exercises after a "wash out" period of 30 days. All the groups achieved lower baseline scores in the "Cutting" and "Lifting and grasping" exercises, considered of intermediate level than any of the others. However, after the training process, they were the only exercises that the sixth year students demonstrated that they were clearly superior to the rest of the years: "Cutting" (94.5%±11 vs 81%±7) (P<.05), "Lifting and grasping" (88.1%±13 vs 68%±11) (P<.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The virtual simulator appears to be of greater use for those students in higher years with more clinical experience, there already being a discrimination process during this period. Surgical skills during this phase should be reinforced by means of new teaching challenges, such as simulation programs in the framework of skills laboratories.
authors: Departamento de Cirugía, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, IISPV, Universidad Rovira i Virgili, Reus, Tarragona, España.
authors: Fàtima
authors: F
authors: Sabench Pereferrer
authors: Mercè
authors: M
authors: Hernández González
authors: Andrés
authors: A
authors: Muñoz García
authors: Arantxa
authors: A
authors: Cabrera Vilanova
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Del Castillo Déjardin
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000193:education* / Q000592:standards*