Volk Angela S, Eisemann Bradley S, Dibbs Rami P, Perdanasari Aurelia T, Braun Tara L, Marsack Kristina P
Division of Plastic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.
J Craniofac Surg. 2020 Jan/Feb;31(1):72-76. doi: 10.1097/SCS.0000000000005869.
Smile Train, an international children's charity committed to improving cleft care around the world, empowers local medical professionals in developing countries to provide quality comprehensive cleft care in their own communities. As part of their sustainable model, Smile Train developed a web-based, interactive virtual simulator to improve surgical training of cleft procedures for surgeons around the world, replicating the anatomical and technical steps involved in cleft surgery. This study evaluated the simulator as a tool for enhancing surgical training.
A pre-test and questionnaire addressing cleft care, surgical knowledge, and confidence level was administered to surgeons-in-training at an academic institution. Participants completed 3 simulator modules followed by a post-test and questionnaire to measure changes in knowledge and confidence levels.
Sixteen surgeons-in-training participated in this study. The mean score on the knowledge examination increased after reviewing the modules for both junior residents (33.1%-64.4%) and senior residents (46.9%-70.8%). Reviewing the modules increased participants' confidence in the knowledge of cleft anatomy, understanding of surgical procedures, and ability to follow along meaningfully while assisting in operations.
The Smile Train Virtual Surgery Simulator increased knowledge and reported surgeon confidence in understanding and assisting in cleft lip surgery, signifying its usefulness as a training tool for surgeons-in-training. Virtual simulation is a valuable resource for improving understanding and competence of the craniofacial surgeon while serving as an educational resource to other members of the comprehensive cleft care team, patients, and families.
“微笑列车”是一家致力于改善全球唇腭裂治疗状况的国际儿童慈善机构，它使发展中国家的当地医疗专业人员有能力在其所在社区提供高质量的唇腭裂综合治疗。作为其可持续模式的一部分，“微笑列车”开发了一个基于网络的交互式虚拟模拟器，以改善全球外科医生唇腭裂手术的培训，模拟唇腭裂手术涉及的解剖和技术步骤。本研究评估了该模拟器作为加强手术培训工具的效果。
对一所学术机构中接受培训的外科医生进行了一项关于唇腭裂治疗、手术知识和信心水平的预测试及问卷调查。参与者完成3个模拟器模块，随后进行后测试及问卷调查，以测量知识和信心水平的变化。
16名接受培训的外科医生参与了本研究。在查看模块后，初级住院医师（从33.1%提高到64.4%）和高级住院医师（从46.9%提高到70.8%）的知识考试平均成绩均有所提高。查看这些模块增强了参与者对唇腭裂解剖知识的信心、对手术程序的理解以及在协助手术时进行有效跟进的能力。
“微笑列车”虚拟手术模拟器增加了知识储备，并提高了外科医生对唇裂手术理解和协助的信心，表明其作为培训实习外科医生的工具是有用的。虚拟模拟是提高颅面外科医生理解能力和技能的宝贵资源，同时也是综合唇腭裂治疗团队其他成员、患者及其家属的教育资源。
