Construction of an evidence-based, graduated training curriculum for D-box, a webcam-based laparoscopic basic skills trainer box.

Background: Surgical training programs are now including simulators as training tools for teaching laparoscopic surgery. The aim of this study was to develop a standardized, graduated, and evidence-based curriculum for the newly developed D-box (D-box Medical, Lier, Norway) for training basic laparoscopic skills.

Methods: Eighteen interns with no laparoscopic experience completed a training program on the D-box consisting of 8 sessions of 5 tasks with assessment on a sixth task.

A tale of two trainers: virtual reality versus a video trainer for acquisition of basic laparoscopic skills.

Background: This study aimed to assess the transferability of basic laparoscopic skills between a virtual reality simulator (MIST-VR) and a video trainer box (D-Box).

Methods: Forty-six medical students were randomized into 2 groups, training on MIST-VR or D-Box. After training with one modality, a crossover assessment on the other was performed.