Construct Validity for the UCLA Laparoscopic Training System

This study aims to establish the construct validity of new Laparoscopic Training Simulator (LTS) developed at UCLA. The system was developed due to the increasing demand for Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) coupled with the difficulty associated in training surgeons in the use of MIS techniques with traditional apprenticeship models. In addition to training issues, there exists an immediate need for an objective assessment of Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) skills and techniques required to ensure safe and high quality treatment as previously established [1]. While currently available training systems have been used they are slow in educating new surgeons and they do not provide an objective assessment. The new system developed UCLA-LTS [2] addresses these very issues by combining the simplicity of the traditional training box with the advances in computer simulation technology to both train and to assess skill level.Copyright © 2008 by ASME