Academic Research Program

In addition to education, academic research is a top priority of the telesimulation program and is led by Dr. Okrainec. Research projects help evaluate the effectiveness of this relatively new approach to surgical training and contribute to improvements in the program. Since Dr. Okrainec launched the telesimulation program in 2008 the results of the team’s research have been widely published and presented.

One of their first research projects focused on evaluating the effectiveness of telesimulation with 16 surgical trainees in Botswana who were preparing for the Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) certification.

Highlights of the study:

• Of the 16 participants, eight took part in the telesimulation sessions; eight completed the FLS course through self-study only.
• The telesimulation group had access to the simulators and communications technology, which enabled them to practice skills and ask questions, while Dr. Okrainec provided feedback and demonstrated correct technique – all in real time.
• The study demonstrated that the surgeons who participated in the telesimulation group scored significantly higher on the FLS exam and 100 per cent were successfully certified in the technical skills, while only 38 per cent in the self-study group passed

» read abstract

Read other abstracts on telesimulation research:

"Surgical simulation in Africa: the feasibility and impact of a 3-day fundamentals of laparoscopic surgery course." | » read abstract

"Simulation in surgery: perfecting the practice." | » read abstract