AIM: To demonstrate face and construct validity of a computer based flexible sigmoidoscopy trainer. METHODS: The PreOp (Immersion Medical, USA) system is a virtual reality based flexible sigmoidoscopy simulator. The system records several performance parameters, such as percentage of colonic mucosa visualized, time taken, and pathlength of endoscope travel. Forty-five subjects were divided into three groups: novice (never performed a lower GI endoscopy), intermediate (5–50 examinations), and trained (greater than 200 examinations). After initial familiarization subjects were assessed three times on a case module. Results showed a nonparametric distribution. RESULTS: There was a significant difference between all three groups with respect to percentage of mucosa visualized (novice 71.0 ± 3.7%, intermediate 77.3 ± 5.6%, expert 84.8 ± 4.6%, Kruskal–Wallis p <0.001) and efficiency ratio (%mucosa/time, novice 0.163 ± 0.055, intermediate 0.259 ± 0.07, expert 0.306 ± 0.058, p <0.001). The novice group was also slower and had a lower pathlength of instrument travel compared to the others. CONCLUSION: PreOp virtual reality simulator is a valid discriminator of flexible sigmoidoscopic experience. Its effect on training needs to be explored.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Datta, V., Mandalia, M., Mackay, S. et al. The PreOp flexible sigmoidoscopy trainer . Surg Endosc 16, 1459–1463 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-9014-4
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-9014-4