Acquisition of basic microsurgery skills using home-based simulation training: A randomised control study.

Introduction: Acquisition of fine motor skills required in microsurgery can be challenging in the current training system. Therefore, there is an increased demand for novel training and assessment methods to optimise learning outside the clinical setting. Here, we present a randomised control trial of three microsurgical training models, namely laboratory tabletop training microscope (Laboratory Microscope, LM), low-cost jewellers microscope (Home Microscope, HM) and iPad trainer (Home Tablet, HT).

Tablet based simulation provides a new solution to accessing laparoscopic skills training.

Aim: Access to facilities that allow trainees to develop their laparoscopic skills is very limited in the hospital environment and courses can be very expensive. We set out to build an inexpensive yet effective trainer to allow laparoscopic skill acquisition in the home or classroom environment based on using a tablet as a replacement for the laparoscopic stack and camera.

Methods: The cavity in which to train was made from a cardboard box; we left the sides and back open to allow for natural light to fill the cavity.