Assessing the attitude of surgical trainees towards virtual reality simulation: A national cross-sectional questionnaire study.

Background: We performed a cross sectional study to determine the attitudes of surgical trainees and medical students towards virtual reality (VR) simulation in surgical training. A survey was devised through an iterative process before distribution to surgical trainees, foundation year doctors and medical students through online platforms.

Methods: The survey was disseminated within the United Kingdom through social media and email correspondence, in co-operation with national surgical organisations.

The 'tears' score: A tool for grading and monitoring epiphora.

Purpose: To test the reliability, validity and utility of the TEARS score, a scale of clinical and patient-reported severity in patients with epiphora, comprising 4 subscales: Times wiping (T), clinical Effects (E), Activity limitation (A), and symptoms of Reflex epiphora (R).

Methods: The TEARS score was completed by 136 patients with epiphora (78 treated surgically, and 51 non-surgically). Inter-rater reliability was evaluated using Cohen's Kappa and Bland-Altman analysis.