Effect of visual feedback during laparoscopic basic training using a box trainer with a transparent top

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Laparoscopic surgery requires specialized training.
• Box trainers are common tools for laparoscopic surgical training.
• The impact of visual feedback during box trainer use is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of a novel transparent laparoscopic box trainer.
• To determine if visual feedback improves laparoscopic surgical training outcomes.
• To assess the impact on novice surgical skill acquisition.

Main Methods:

• Development of a transparent-topped box trainer.
• Three surgical simulation tasks of increasing difficulty were designed.
• Forty-five students were divided into three groups: no training, covered trainer, and transparent trainer.
• Task completion times were measured before and after training.

Main Results:

• Training significantly reduced operating times for all tasks.
• The transparent trainer group (Group C) showed a significantly greater reduction in overall time compared to the no-training group (Group A).
• Visual feedback through the transparent top notably decreased learning time, particularly for complex tasks.

Conclusions:

• Visual feedback during laparoscopic box training enhances skill acquisition.
• The transparent box trainer is an effective tool for reducing surgical learning curves.
• This method offers a promising approach to improving surgical education and patient safety.