Development of a novel iPad-based laparoscopic trainer and comparison with a standard laparoscopic trainer for basic...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• A portable laparoscopic trainer, the iTrainer (iT), was developed using an iPad tablet.
• The iT was compared against a standard pelvic trainer (SPT) to evaluate surgical skills and performance metrics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the efficacy of the iTrainer (iT) as a laparoscopic training tool.
• To compare the iT with a standard pelvic trainer (SPT) regarding surgical skill acquisition, image quality, and user experience.

Main Methods:

• The iTrainer (iT) was designed for compatibility with the Apple iPad 3 and standard laparoscopic instruments.
• Participants performed a standardized "thread-the-loops" task on both trainers, with randomized assignment and a brief warm-up period.
• Surgical skill was scored based on quality and quantity, and participants provided subjective ratings on image quality, resolution, brightness, comfort, and overall performance.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in task performance was observed between the iT and SPT across most participant groups, except for medical students who performed better on the SPT.
• Participants rated the iT as having significantly superior image quality and resolution compared to the SPT.
• The SPT received higher ratings for overall performance, while brightness and comfort were rated similarly for both trainers.

Conclusions:

• The iTrainer (iT) demonstrates face and criterion validity for the "thread-the-loops" task in laparoscopic training.
• While excelling in image quality and resolution, the iT was rated lower in overall performance than the SPT.
• The iT presents a cost-effective, portable, and accessible supplementary resource for laparoscopic surgical training.