title: A Review of Endoscopic Simulation: Current Evidence on Simulators and Curricula.
abstract: Upper and lower endoscopy is an important tool that is being utilized more frequently by general surgeons. Training in therapeutic endoscopic techniques has become a mandatory requirement for general surgery residency programs in the United States. The Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery has been developed to train and assess competency in these advanced techniques. Simulation has been shown to increase the skill and learning curve of trainees in other surgical disciplines. Several types of endoscopy simulators are commercially available; mechanical trainers, animal based, and virtual reality or computer-based simulators all have their benefits and limitations. However they have all been shown to improve trainee's endoscopic skills. Endoscopic simulators will play a critical role as part of a comprehensive curriculum designed to train the next generation of surgeons. We reviewed recent literature related to the various types of endoscopic simulators and their use in an educational curriculum, and discuss the relevant findings.
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of General Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: King
authors.affiliation: Division of Trauma, Department of General Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey.
authors.forename: Anastasia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kunac
authors.affiliation: Division of General Surgery, Department of General Surgery, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, New Jersey. Electronic address: Aziz.Merchant@rutgers.edu.
authors.forename: Aziz M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Merchant
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000193:education*; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D023421:Models, Animal; D000066908:Simulation Training
keywords: Endoscopy; Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery; Medical Knowledge; Patient Care; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Simulation; Surgical Education; Surgical Training