Application of virtual-simulation laparoscopic training system in the teaching of general surgery skills

Objective To investigate the effect of virtual-simulation laparoscopic training system in the training of basic skills of endoscopic surgery in trainees with different clinical experience. Method s Eight refresher physicians, eight residents who received standardized residency training, and eight undergraduate interns in five-year clinical medicine were selected. All of them received the training of endoscopic operations with the laparoscopic training box and the virtual-simulation laparoscopic training system for 30 minutes every day for 4 weeks. Data analyses were performed using SPSS 19.0 and t-test was adopted to compare the scores before and after training among the three groups. Result s Before training, there were significant differences in endoscopic operations between the undergraduate intern group and the other two groups (P 0.05), and the undergraduate intern group had a significantly higher score of complex operations than did the standardized residency training group and the refresher physician group (P<0.05). Conclusion The virtual-simulation laparoscopic training system can improve the laparoscopic skills of clinical trainees at different levels, therefore, it is worth being promoted in the teaching of clinical skills. Key words: Virtual-simulation training system; Laparoscopy; Simulation teaching; Application