title: The efficacy of laparoscopic skills training in a Mobile Simulation Unit compared with a fixed site: a comparative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Laparoscopic skills development via simulation-based medical education programs has gained support in recent years. However, the impact of training site type on skills acquisition has not been examined. The objective of this research was to determine whether laparoscopic skills training outcomes differ as a result of training in a Mobile Simulation Unit (MSU) compared with fixed simulation laboratories.
  
  
  METHODS
  An MSU was developed to provide delivery of training. Fixed-site and MSU laparoscopic skills training outcomes data were compared. Fixed-site participants from three Australian states were pooled to create a cohort of 144 participants, which was compared with a cohort derived from pooled MSU participants in one Australian state. Data were sourced from training periods held from October 2009 to December 2010. LapSim and Fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery (FLS) simulators were used at the MSU and fixed sites. Participants self-reported on demographic and experience variables. They trained to a level of competence on one simulator and were assessed on the other simulator, thus producing crossover scores. No participants trained at both site types.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When FLS-trained participants were assessed on LapSim, those who received MSU training achieved a significantly higher crossover score than their fixed-site counterparts (p < 0.001). Compared with baseline data, MSU LapSim-trained participants assessed on FLS displayed a performance increase of 23.1 %, whereas MSU FLS-trained participants assessed on LapSim demonstrated a 12.4 % increase in performance skills. Participants at fixed sites displayed performance increases of 5.2 and 10.9 %, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mobile Simulation Unit-delivered laparoscopic simulation training is not inferior to fixed-site training.
authors: Research, Audit, and Academic Surgery Division, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, 199 Ward Street, North Adelaide, SA, Australia.
authors: Vicki
authors: V
authors: Xafis
authors: Wendy
authors: W
authors: Babidge
authors: John
authors: J
authors: Field
authors: Meryl
authors: M
authors: Altree
authors: Nicholas
authors: N
authors: Marlow
authors: Guy
authors: G
authors: Maddern
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education*; D008297:Male; D018986:Motor Vehicles
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