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.

Results: When tested on MIST-VR, the MIST-VR group showed significantly shorter time (90.3 seconds vs 188.6 seconds, P <.001), better economy of movements (4.40 vs 7.50, P <.001), and lower score (224.7 vs 527.0, P <.001). However, when assessed on the D-Box, there was no difference between the groups for time (402.0 seconds vs 325.6 seconds, P = .152), total hand movements (THC) (289 vs 262, P = .792), or total path length (TPL) (34.9 m vs 34.6 m, P = .388).

Conclusion: Both simulators provide significant improvement in performance. Our results indicate that skills learned on the MIST-VR are transferable to the D-Box, but the opposite cannot be demonstrated.