SE01 THE EMERGING ROLE OF SIMULATION IN SURGICAL TRAINING

Abstract

Traditionally, surgical trainees have acquired their technical skills whilst working in the operating theatre alongside more senior surgeons in an apprenticeship model. Recently, changes in surgical practice have challenged this traditional approach, including reduced working hours, decreased availability of operating theatre time, increased cost of operating theatre time and increasing complexity of surgical procedures. Most importantly, public opinion is increasingly resistant to having patients used as teaching material. Moving forward in the 21st century, we need to develop a new model of technical skills acquisition. Surgical simulation offers a means of practicing surgical skills in a laboratory environment with no risk to patients. Simulators range from simple bench models, which are relatively inexpensive, to high tech virtual reality simulators. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has developed a syllabus for operative surgery which is based on simulation and all trainees attend the National Surgical Training Centre on a regular recurrent basis, six times each year, for concentrated skills training. Simulation allows the standardisation of teaching technical skills and, most importantly, standardisation of assessment of technical skills. Furthermore, simulation offers trainees “permission to make mistakes”– a valuable learning exercise. Our trainees are assessed in the laboratory setting and must demonstrate proficiency before moving to the next stage of training (proficiency based progression). Simulation has played a key role in this process.