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document
Virtual reality colonoscopy simulation : a compulsory practice for the future colonoscopist ? BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM As for any manual procedure , the learning curves for medical interventions can have undesirable phases , occurring mostly in the early experience of applying a technique . There have been impressive advances in endoscopic procedures during recent years , and there is an emerging trend that the number of procedures is increasing in parallel with these . In addition , the introduction of screening programs for colorectal cancer will also increase the numbers of procedures needed . Recent developments in medical simulation seem promising with regard to the possibility of " training out " undesirable parts of the learning curve outside the operating room . The aim of this study was to investigate whether the use of the AccuTouch flexible endoscopy simulator improves the early part of the learning curve in colonoscopy training . METHOD 12 endoscopy trainees , 10 surgeons and two medical gastroenterologists , all with experience in gastroscopy but with no specific colonoscopy experience , were randomly assigned to either simulator training or to a control group . They all received the same theoretical study package and the training group practiced with the AccuTouch colonoscopy simulator until a predefined expert level of performance was reached . All trainees performed their first ten individual colonoscopies described in detail in a separate protocol . RESULTS Trainees in the simulator-trained group performed significantly better ( P=0.0011 ) and managed to reach the cecum in 52 % of their cases ( vs. 19 % in the control group ) , and were 4.53 times more likely to succeed compared with the controls . Additionally , there was a significantly shorter procedure time and less patient discomfort in the hands of the simulator-trained group . CONCLUSION Skills acquired using the AccuTouch simulator transfer well into the clinical colonoscopy environment . The results of this trial clearly support the plan to integrate simulator training into endoscopic education curricula .
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Intervention_Other
Virtual reality colonoscopy simulation
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Intervention_Other
AccuTouch flexible endoscopy simulator
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Intervention_Other
simulator training
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Intervention_Control
control group
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Intervention_Other
AccuTouch colonoscopy simulator
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Intervention_Other
simulator training
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Outcome_Other
early part of the learning curve
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Outcome_Other
managed to reach the cecum
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Outcome_Other
shorter procedure time
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Outcome_Other
less patient discomfort
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Participant_Sex
12 endoscopy trainees , 10 surgeons and two medical gastroenterologists , all with experience in gastroscopy but with no specific colonoscopy experience