title: Virtual reality simulators: valuable surgical skills trainers or video games?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Virtual reality (VR) and physical model (PM) simulators differ in terms of whether the trainee is manipulating actual 3-dimensional objects (PM) or computer-generated 3-dimensional objects (VR). Much like video games (VG), VR simulators utilize computer-generated graphics. These differences may have profound effects on the utility of VR and PM training platforms. In this study, we aimed to determine whether a relationship exists between VR, PM, and VG platforms.
  
  
  METHODS
  VR and PM simulators for laparoscopic camera navigation ([LCN], experiment 1) and flexible endoscopy ([FE] experiment 2) were used in this study. In experiment 1, 20 laparoscopic novices played VG and performed 0° and 30° LCN exercises on VR and PM simulators. In experiment 2, 20 FE novices played VG and performed colonoscopy exercises on VR and PM simulators.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both experiments, VG performance was correlated with VR performance but not with PM performance. Performance on VR simulators did not correlate with performance on respective PM models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VR environments may be more like VG than previously thought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas. Electronic address: willisr@uthscsa.edu.
authors.forename: Ross E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Willis
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Pedro Pablo
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Gomez
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Srinivas J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Ivatury
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Hari S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Mitra
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas.
authors.forename: Kent R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Van Sickle
mesh_terms: D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000193:education; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D018910:Video Games
keywords: Patient Care; physical model; simulation; surgical education; virtual reality