title: Evaluation of a haptics-based virtual reality temporal bone simulator for anatomy and surgery training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virtual reality simulation training may improve knowledge of anatomy and surgical skills. We evaluated a 3-dimensional, haptic, virtual reality temporal bone simulator for dissection training.
  
  
  METHODS
  The subjects were 7 otolaryngology residents (3 training sessions each) and 7 medical students (1 training session each). The virtual reality temporal bone simulation station included a computer with software that was linked to a force-feedback hand stylus, and the system recorded performance and collisions with vital anatomic structures. Subjects performed virtual reality dissections and completed questionnaires after the training sessions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Residents and students had favorable responses to most questions of the technology acceptance model (TAM) questionnaire. The average TAM scores were above neutral for residents and medical students in all domains, and the average TAM score for residents was significantly higher for the usefulness domain and lower for the playful domain than students. The average satisfaction questionnaire for residents showed that residents had greater overall satisfaction with cadaver temporal bone dissection training than training with the virtual reality simulator or plastic temporal bone. For medical students, the average comprehension score was significantly increased from before to after training for all anatomic structures. Medical students had significantly more collisions with the dura than residents. The residents had similar mean performance scores after the first and third training sessions for all dissection procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The virtual reality temporal bone simulator provided satisfactory training for otolaryngology residents and medical students.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Fu Jen Catholic University School of Medicine, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Te-Yung
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Fu Jen Catholic University School of Medicine, New Taipei City, Taiwan; Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; School of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Pa-Chun
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chih-Hsien
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mu-Chun
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Su
authors.affiliation: Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. Electronic address: shihchiy@csie.ncu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shih-Ching
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Yeh
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education; D003198:Computer Simulation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013701:Temporal Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000601:surgery; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: Anatomic dissection; Haptics; Medical education; Otolaryngology; Surgical technique; Virtual environment