title: Virtual reality simulators for gastrointestinal endoscopy training.
abstract: The use of simulators as educational tools for medical procedures is spreading rapidly and many efforts have been made for their implementation in gastrointestinal endoscopy training. Endoscopy simulation training has been suggested for ascertaining patient safety while positively influencing the trainees' learning curve. Virtual simulators are the most promising tool among all available types of simulators. These integrated modalities offer a human-like endoscopy experience by combining virtual images of the gastrointestinal tract and haptic realism with using a customized endoscope. From their first steps in the 1980s until today, research involving virtual endoscopic simulators can be divided in two categories: investigation of the impact of virtual simulator training in acquiring endoscopy skills and measuring competence. Emphasis should also be given to the financial impact of their implementation in endoscopy, including the cost of these state-of-the-art simulators and the potential economic benefits from their usage. Advances in technology will contribute to the upgrade of existing models and the development of new ones; while further research should be carried out to discover new fields of application.
authors: Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Lazaros Dimitrios Lazaridis, George D Dimitriadis, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, 12462 Athens, Greece.
authors: Konstantinos
authors: K
authors: Triantafyllou
authors: Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Lazaros Dimitrios Lazaridis, George D Dimitriadis, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, 12462 Athens, Greece.
authors: Lazaros Dimitrios
authors: LD
authors: Lazaridis
authors: Konstantinos Triantafyllou, Lazaros Dimitrios Lazaridis, George D Dimitriadis, Hepatogastroenterology Unit, Second Department of Internal Medicine and Research Institute, Attikon University General Hospital, Medical School, Athens University, 12462 Athens, Greece.
authors: George D
authors: GD
authors: Dimitriadis
keywords: Accutouch endoscopy simulator; Endoscopy training; GI Mentor; Olympus Endo TS-1; Virtual endoscopic simulators