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Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Tong, BC; Gustafson, MR; Balderson, SS; D'Amico, TA; Meyerson, SL
Published in: Eur J Cardiothorac Surg
August 2012

OBJECTIVES: Although simulation is considered integral to general surgery training, its role has only recently been recognized in thoracic surgical education, perhaps due to a lack of widely available, validated simulators for advanced thoracic procedures. This study evaluates the construct, content and face validity of an inexpensive, easily reproducible simulator for teaching thoracoscopic lobectomy. METHODS: Construct validity (ability of the simulator to discriminate between users of different skill levels) was assessed by having surgical trainees perform a lobectomy on the simulator. Participants were divided into three groups (experienced, intermediate and novice) based on self-reported experience with minimally invasive surgery. After instruction and practice time to limit the effect of any simulator-specific learning curve, each performed a left upper lobectomy that was scored using a standardized assessment tool incorporating total time plus weighted penalty minutes assigned for errors. Content validity (simulator requires same steps and decision-making as a clinical lobectomy) was assessed using a Likert scale by those participants who had previously seen a thoracoscopic lobectomy in a patient. RESULTS: Thirty-one residents participated in the study (12 experienced, 6 intermediate and 13 novice). All 12 experienced participants completed the lobectomy. The other groups were less successful with 4 of 6 in the intermediate group and 5 of 13 in the novice group completing the lobectomy (P = 0.004). The mean times for lobectomy + penalty minutes were 35 + 6.8 (experienced), 50 + 13 (intermediate) and 54 + 20 (novice). Differences between groups were statistically significant for experienced vs. novice (P < 0.001) and experienced vs. intermediate (P < 0.04). Content validity was assessed by the 18 participants who had previously seen a thoracoscopic lobectomy with a mean of 9.2 of 10 possible points. CONCLUSIONS: The thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator used in this study demonstrates acceptable validity and can be a useful tool for teaching thoracoscopic lobectomy to trainees or experienced surgeons.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg

DOI

EISSN

1873-734X

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

42

Issue

2

Start / End Page

364 / 369

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Thoracoscopy
  • Teaching Materials
  • Teaching
  • Respiratory System
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Surgery
  • Clinical Competence
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology
 

Citation

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Tong, B. C., Gustafson, M. R., Balderson, S. S., D’Amico, T. A., & Meyerson, S. L. (2012). Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg, 42(2), 364–369. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezs012
Tong, Betty C., Monica R. Gustafson, Stafford S. Balderson, Thomas A. D’Amico, and Shari L. Meyerson. “Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg 42, no. 2 (August 2012): 364–69. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezs012.
Tong BC, Gustafson MR, Balderson SS, D’Amico TA, Meyerson SL. Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Aug;42(2):364–9.
Tong, Betty C., et al. “Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator.Eur J Cardiothorac Surg, vol. 42, no. 2, Aug. 2012, pp. 364–69. Pubmed, doi:10.1093/ejcts/ezs012.
Tong BC, Gustafson MR, Balderson SS, D’Amico TA, Meyerson SL. Validation of a thoracoscopic lobectomy simulator. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg. 2012 Aug;42(2):364–369.
Journal cover image

Published In

Eur J Cardiothorac Surg

DOI

EISSN

1873-734X

Publication Date

August 2012

Volume

42

Issue

2

Start / End Page

364 / 369

Location

Germany

Related Subject Headings

  • Thoracoscopy
  • Teaching Materials
  • Teaching
  • Respiratory System
  • Models, Anatomic
  • Internship and Residency
  • Humans
  • General Surgery
  • Clinical Competence
  • 3201 Cardiovascular medicine and haematology