Construct and face validity and task workload for laparoscopic camera navigation: virtual reality versus videotrainer systems at the SAGES Learning Center.

Background: Laparoscopic camera navigation (LCN) training on simulators has demonstrated transferability to actual operations, but no comparative data exist. The objective of this study was to compare the construct and face validity, as well as workload, of two previously validated virtual reality (VR) and videotrainer (VT) systems.

Methods: Attendees (n = 90) of the SAGES 2005 Learning Center performed two repetitions on both VR (EndoTower) and VT (Tulane Trainer) LCN systems using 30 degrees laparoscopes and completed a questionnaire regarding demographics, simulator characteristics, and task workload.