Documenting a Learning Curve and Test-retest Reliability of a Virtual Reality Training Simulator in Laparoscopic Surgery

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT00435630

Enrollment

Registered

2007-02-15

Start date

2004-07-31

Completion date

2008-08-31

Last updated

2012-11-21

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Education

Keywords

Education, Virtual Reality, Laparoscopic Surgery, Learning Curve

Brief summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the learning curve for each of seven tasks in a virtual reality laparoscopic simulator by medical students.

Detailed description

Developing objective methodology for assessing technical skill is paramount to superior surgical training. Alternatives to the traditional apprenticeship model of surgical training are necessary in today's emphasis on cost containment and professional competency. Metrics are widely employed in virtual environments and provide a yardstick for performance measurement. The current method of defining metrics for medical simulation remains more an art than a science. Many studies have demonstrated that trainees who practice laparoscopic skills in a simulated environment will improve their mastery of those skills when tested in that same environment. Fewer studies have been able to document the learning curve for mastery of tasks in a virtual reality simulator. This study will investigate the learning curve for tasks in a virtual reality laparoscopic simulator.

Interventions

OTHERLapSim training

complete curriculum training on LapSim surgical simulator

Study design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

SINGLE_GROUP

Masking

NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

18 Years to 65 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Medical students, years 1 through 4 are eligible. * No prior clinical experience with laparoscopic surgery as the assistant surgeon. * No prior simulation training (mechanical, PC-based or otherwise).

Exclusion criteria

* Persons who are not medical students. * Medical students with prior clinical experience with laparoscopic surgery as the assistant surgeon. * Medical students with prior simulation training (mechanical, PC-based or otherwise).

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Establish learning curve for each of seven tasks on the simulator.	6 months	For each of the module seven modules, the computer automatically measures set parameters. Each measured parameter that is recorded in the simulator will be used in data analysis.

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Establish test-retest reliability for each of seven tasks on the simulator.	6 months

Countries

United States

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026