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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Learning Surgical Skills with Simulator Training: Residents’ Experiences and Perceptions

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Simulator training is becoming a more integral part of surgical psychomotor skills training for video-assisted operating techniques, which need to be practiced repeatedly and systematically. Studies concerning the implementation, realization, and potentiality of simulator training programs for hospital surgeons are needed. Also, trainees’ expectations of training, and the feasibility of combining such training with their hospital work, remain rather unknown. This paper presents important theoretical factors that influence surgical skills learning through computer-based simulator training. The curriculum and the study of learners’ training experiences are presented. Statistical analysis on participants’ questionnaire answers before and after training shows that the residents were confident with their progress and skills development, and felt that working in the operating room was easier after the training period. Residents’ expectations before simulator training, and the skills experience gained afterwards, were consistent with the curriculum objectives. Then again, expectations of individual opportunities to practice were somewhat overestimated. The residents also reported not having reached their anticipated skill level during simulator training, which might indicate that a loose, voluntary training schedule alongside hospital work is insufficient for reaching the requisite skill levels. The implications of this research could be exploited when designing and implementing curricula for surgical residents.