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Published on: August 13, 2019
Evaluation of a high-fidelity cleft alveolar bone graft simulator
Dale J Podolsky1, Branavan Yasabala2, Karen W Wong Riff3
1Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Posluns Center for Image Guided Innovation and Therapeutic Intervention, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Simulare Medical, Division of Smile Train, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Introduction:
Cleft alveolar bone graft surgery is technically challenging to perform as well as difficult to learn and teach. A high-fidelity cleft alveolar bone graft simulator was previously developed. However, further evaluation of the simulator is necessary to assess its efficacy.
Methods:
Two cleft simulation workshops were conducted in which participants were led through a simulated cleft alveolar bone graft. The first simulation workshop involved six plastic surgery trainees. The second workshop involved 43 practicing cleft surgeons. The participants were provided with a Likert-type questionnaire assessing the simulators' features, realism, and value as a training tool. The change in self-reported confidence was assessed by providing each participant with a pre- and post-simulation confidence questionnaire.
Results:
There was overall agreement in the realism of the simulators' features (average score of 4.67 and 3.80 out of 5 for the trainees and surgeons, respectively). There was overall agreement to strong agreement in the simulators value as a training tool (average score of 5 and 4.43 out of 5 for the trainees and surgeons, respectively). The self-reported confidence increased for all questionnaire items for both the trainees and surgeons. This was significant (p < 0.05) for five out of eight and all questionnaire items for the trainees and surgeons, respectively. The magnitude of the confidence increase was generally greater for less experienced participants.
Conclusion:
The cleft alveolar bone graft simulator was found to be realistic and valuable as a training platform. Use of the simulator improved self-reported confidence in cleft alveolar bone graft surgery.
