Can we continue to ignore gender differences in performance on simulation trainers? J Laparoendosc Adv Surg Tech A 2011 May;21(4):329-33
Date
05/14/2011Pubmed ID
21563940DOI
10.1089/lap.2010.0368Scopus ID
2-s2.0-79956087397 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 40 CitationsAbstract
BACKGROUND: There are differences between the genders in their innate performances on simulation trainers, which may impair accurate assessment of psychomotor skills.
METHODS: The performance of fourth-year students with no exposure to the Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer compared based on gender, and other psychomotor skills.
RESULTS: Our study included 16 male and 16 female students. After adjusting for choice of medical specialty (P<.001), current video game use (P=.6), and experience in the operating room (P=.4), female sex was an independent factor for worse performance (P=.04) in multivariate models. Women took more time than men (P<.01) and made more errors (29 versus 25 on 3 reps, P<.01).
CONCLUSIONS: Among medical students with no previous exposure to laparoscopic trainers, female students perform worse than male students after adjusting for confounding factors. This difference must be recognized by training programs while using simulators for training and evaluation.
Author List
Thorson CM, Kelly JP, Forse RA, Turaga KKMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultClinical Competence
Computer Simulation
Female
Humans
Laparoscopy
Male
Psychomotor Performance
Sex Factors
