title: Validation of the GreenLight™ Simulator and development of a training curriculum for photoselective vaporisation of the prostate.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess face, content and construct validity, and feasibility and acceptability of the GreenLight™ Simulator as a training tool for photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP), and to establish learning curves and develop an evidence-based training curriculum.
  
  
  METHODS
  This prospective, observational and comparative study, recruited novice (25 participants), intermediate (14) and expert-level urologists (seven) from the UK and Europe at the 28th European Association of Urological Surgeons Annual Meeting 2013. A group of novices (12 participants) performed 10 sessions of subtask training modules followed by a long operative case, whereas a second group (13) performed five sessions of a given case module. Intermediate and expert groups performed all training modules once, followed by one operative case. The outcome measures for learning curves and construct validity were time to task, coagulation time, vaporisation time, average sweep speed, average laser distance, blood loss, operative errors, and instrument cost. Face and content validity, feasibility and acceptability were addressed through a quantitative survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Construct validity was demonstrated in two of five training modules (P = 0.038; P = 0.018) and in a considerable number of case metrics (P = 0.034). Learning curves were seen in all five training modules (P < 0.001) and significant reduction in case operative time (P < 0.001) and error (P = 0.017) were seen. An evidence-based training curriculum, to help trainees acquire transferable skills, was produced using the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has shown the GreenLight Simulator to be a valid and useful training tool for PVP. It is hoped that by using the training curriculum for the GreenLight Simulator, novice trainees can acquire skills and knowledge to a predetermined level of proficiency.
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London and Department of Urology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Abdullatif
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Gordon H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Manuela E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Graziano
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London and Department of Urology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shamim
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London and Department of Urology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Prokar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.affiliation: MRC Centre for Transplantation, King's College London and Department of Urology, Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's Health Partners, King's College Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ahmed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003198:Computer Simulation; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D059032:Learning Curve; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011467:Prostate / Q000601:surgery; D011468:Prostatectomy / Q000193:education / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D066231:Surgeons / Q000193:education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000193:education / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014584:User-Computer Interface
keywords: GreenLight; PVP; education; laser prostatectomy; simulation; urology training