Colonoscopy Training on Virtual-Reality Simulators or Physical Model Simulators: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVE: This study employed a randomized controlled trial to assess the efficacy of virtual-reality (VR) simulators and physical model simulators on colonoscopy training to explore the optimal and evidence-based simulation training. DESIGN: Forty participants were divided into 2 groups and randomized as dyads: the VR simulator group and the physical model simulator group. All the participants performed a baseline test through porcine colonoscopy. After a 6 h simulation training, each participant underwent a post-test on a pig after bowel preparation, and the procedures were video-recorded. Both the baseline test and the post-test were blindly assessed by 2 experienced assistant director physicians based on the GAGES- C scoring system. SETTING: Simulation center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai. PARTICIPANTS: Forty surgical residents without colonoscopy experience. RESULTS: Both the VR simulator group and the physical model simulator group improved significantly over the baseline test. The VR simulator group performed significantly better than the physical model simulator group, p=0.042. The participants in both groups expressed a high level of simulator satisfaction. CONCLUSIONS: Novice residents can benefit from both VR simulators and physical model simulators. The VR simulator was shown to be more effective for colonoscopy training. VR simulators were more recommended for novices conducting basic colonoscopy training. ( J Surg Ed 81:1339-1345.- 1345. (c) 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of Association of Program Directors in Surgery. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/))