1 - Surgical Simulation: An Overview

Summary

Simulation-Based Surgical Training

Definitions

Assessment – a process of documenting an individual's knowledge, skills and attitudes or beliefs on a given topic or content

Certification – confirming a specific or pre-determined level of knowledge, skills or attitudes through a formal assessment process

Credentialing – an objective process of establishing the qualifications of individuals or organisations through a formal assessment or evaluative process

Curriculum – any planned educational experience that involves goals, objectives, teaching methods and assessment or evaluation of individuals

Simulation – a person, device, or set of conditions that attempts to imitate a real environment

Virtual reality – a computer-based simulation of a real environment that allows for immersive interaction

As a result of advancements in science and technology, the field of surgery has witnessed significant changes and growth over the past few decades. The introduction of new surgical technologies has also been accompanied by more challenging surgical procedures for a more complex patient population. In addition, factors such as legislated limitations on resident work hours, an increased emphasis on safety and patient-centred care and increasing pressures to utilise costly operating room (OR) resources more efficiently have mandated significant changes to surgical training curricula.

The traditional residency training paradigm established by Dr William Halsted placed a strong emphasis on structured apprenticeships, with trainees developing surgical expertise in a supervised clinical setting over a prolonged training period consisting of increasing levels of responsibility (1).