title: Validation of open inguinal hernia repair simulation model: a randomized controlled educational trial.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A hernia repair open surgical simulation computer software was developed at Imperial College London. A randomized controlled educational trial was conducted to investigate the benefit of the simulation on the development of procedural knowledge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical students in their clinical years were invited to participate in the trial. Students were block randomized to 4 groups: G1--Interactive Simulation; G2--Non-interactive Simulation; G3--Video Tutorial; G4--Control. On completion, they were objectively assessed on their ability to recall the tasks involved in an open inguinal hernia repair in the form of a multiple choice question (MCQ) and a simulated discussion with a consultant surgeon.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-six students completed the study. Each arm carries similar baseline scores (pre-intervention MCQ) with means 43.33, 38.92, 38.33, and 39.57 in G1 to G4, respectively. MCQ score improvements and final assessment scores proved better in the intervention groups (1, 2, and 3) compared to controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interactive simulation has shown an objective benefit in teaching medical students the anatomical and procedural knowledge in performing an open inguinal hernia repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK. Electronic address: manaf_khatib@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Manaf
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khatib
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hald
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brenton
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Mohamad Fahed
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Worcestershire Royal Hospital, UK.
authors.forename: Sudip K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Sarker
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK; The London Deanery, UK.
authors.forename: Nigel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Standfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ziprin
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kneebone
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, UK.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bello
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003198:Computer Simulation; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D013337:Students, Medical; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Hernia repair; Randomized controlled educational trial; Surgical education; Surgical simulation