OR fire virtual training simulator: design and face validity.

Background: The Virtual Electrosurgical Skill Trainer is a tool for training surgeons the safe operation of electrosurgery tools in both open and minimally invasive surgery. This training includes a dedicated team-training module that focuses on operating room (OR) fire prevention and response. The module was developed to allow trainees, practicing surgeons, anesthesiologist, and nurses to interact with a virtual OR environment, which includes anesthesia apparatus, electrosurgical equipment, a virtual patient, and a fire extinguisher.

The effect of stress on learning in surgical skill acquisition.

Background: An excessive level of stress and anxiety in medical education can have a negative impact on learning. In particular, the interaction between attending surgeons and trainees in the operating room could induce stress on trainees that is counterproductive, especially if the teaching style or feedback is unduly harsh or critical.

Aim: To characterize the effects of stress resulting from attending-trainee interaction during surgical skill acquisition.

Segregation from direction differences in dynamic random-dot stimuli.

Previous research has shown that a field of random dots in which each dot alternates between a slow and a fast speed, can give rise to the percept of two superimposed sheets of moving dots when the alternations are out of phase or asynchronous with each other [Vis. Res. 35 (1995) 1691].