Comparison of the Learning Pace of Medical Students and Surgical Residents in a Virtual Reality Laparoscopic Simulation.

Surgical training has evolved from the traditional Halstedian concept to include simulation, such as box trainers or virtual reality (VR), until a certain level of proficiency is achieved. This study aimed to compare the learning pace of medical students and surgical residents in laparoscopic simulation to assess the need for different training curricula. The research sample included 49 participants, consisting of 34 medical students and 15 surgical residents. Individual performances were recorded using the LAP Mentor III platform (Simbionix Corporation, Cleveland, OH, USA), and a learning curve analysis was conducted. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of the learning pace. Additionally, there were no significant differences observed between students and residents in any parameter. A common curriculum in basic laparoscopic skills is suggested for both students and residents.