Validation/Dissemination Of A Temporal Bone Dissection Simulator

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Designed to test the efficacy of a computer based virtual simulation for teaching ear surgery.

Detailed Description
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This research is designed to test the efficacy of a computer based virtual simulation for teaching ear surgery. Subjects will be randomized to training in the usual fashion and training in the simulation environment. Subjects performance will be tested in a standard fashion by dissecting cadaveric temporal bones (human ears) before and after training. The subjects will also perform a dissection in the virtual environment before and after training. The results will be tabulated to compare the different training arms. There is minimal risk associated with the projects and is limited to exposure to cadaveric material. Current training techniques utilize cadaveric material so exposure to this type of material is already a part of the standard training process and this study should not constitute an increased risk beyond what is encountered during their regular training. Demographic information will be obtained for each of the study subject on age, sex, information regarding previous otologic training, year of training and prior experience using computers. The anticipated benefits to society will be that future otologic surgeons can obtain operative experience in a controlled and non threatening environment. They will have access to a greater number of variations in pathology. This will allow each novice surgeon to obtain significantly more experience outside the operating room prior to working with live patients. This will result in less risk to the patient and better trained ear surgeons.

Official Title
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Validation/Dissemination Of A Temporal Bone Dissection Simulator

Conditions
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Computer Simulation, Education

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Simulator training for temporal bone surgery


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Enrolled in residency for ear, nose and throat training or medical student interested in ear, nose and throat training. Exclusion Criteria: Not enrolled in ENT training program or interest in ENT training.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 20 Years
Maximum Age: 40 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: 1 - Traditional training<br>Temporal bone dissection training in cadaveric laboratory. Subjects are provided 2 cadaveric temporal bones and asked to spend 2 weeks practicing the surgical technique of complete mastoidectomy with facial recess approach. | Other: Simulator training for temporal bone surgery<br>* Subjects in experimental arm are asked to spend 2 weeks practicing temporal bone surgical procedures using a computer simulation.<br>* Other names: Surgical training;|
| Experimental: 2 Simulator training<br>Subjects perform temporal bone surgical dissection training on a simulator. | Other: Simulator training for temporal bone surgery<br>* Subjects in experimental arm are asked to spend 2 weeks practicing temporal bone surgical procedures using a computer simulation.<br>* Other names: Surgical training;|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Performance on temporal bone dissection. |  | 2 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Surgical Simulation, Surgical skills training, Temporal bone surgery, Computer simulation