Teaching With the GlobalSurgBox: Trainer Perceptions of a Portable Surgical Simulator

Abstract

Objectives: Evaluate the utility of a low cost, portable surgical simulator (GlobalSurgBox) for surgical teaching and its ability to dismantle barriers faced by trainers when attempting to use surgical simulation.

Design: An anonymous survey was administered to surgical trainers who were involved in leading simulation events using the GlobalSurgBox in the past 2 years. The survey was designed to understand current barriers to using simulation as a trainer, and the utility of the GlobalSurgBox in overcoming these barriers.

Setting: Academic medical training centers or conferences in the United States, Rwanda and Kenya.

Participants: 10 practicing surgeons, 3 practicing physicians, 11 surgical residents, 15 medical students and 1 anesthesia resident.

Results: The top 3 barriers for effective teaching were lack of convenient access to the simulator (50%), lack of trainer time (43%) and cost (28%). After using the GlobalSurgBox, 100% and 98% of respondents felt that it encourages more practice and offers significant advantages over current simulators in their program. About 90%, 88% and 70% of respondents believed that the GlobalSurgBox makes surgical simulation more convenient, affordable, and compatible with trainer time limitations, respectively. 83% of trainers agreed that it is a good replica of the operating room experience, and 85% practicing physicians were more likely to give autonomy to trainees after demonstrating competence on the GlobalSurgBox.

Conclusion: The GlobalSurgBox mitigates several barriers surgical educators experience when practicing surgical skills with trainees. The convenience of the GlobalSurgBox can help facilitate the development of foundational surgical skills outside of the operating room.

Keywords: Surgical simulation; global surgery; surgical education; training.