ABSTRACT

Box model trainers have been used for many years to facilitate the improvement of laparoscopic skills. However, there are limited data available on box trainers and their impact on skill acquisition, assessed by virtual reality systems.

Twenty-two Postgraduate Year 1 gynecology residents with no laparoscopic experience were randomly divided into one group that received structured box model training and a control group. All residents performed a salpingectomy on LapSim before and after the training. Performances before and after the training were assessed using LapSim and were recorded using objective parameters, registered by a computer system (time, damage, and economy of motion scores).

There were initially no differences between the two groups. The box trainer group showed significantly greater improvement in time (p=0.01) and economy of motion scores (p=0.001) compared with the control group post-training.

The present study confirmed the positive effect of low cost box model training on laparoscopic skill acquisition as assessed using LapSim. Novice surgeons should obtain practice on box trainers and teaching centers should make efforts to establish training laboratories.

Keywords: Laparoscopy, skill, box trainer, LapSim