Moving Simulation Training – The Results From Bulgaria

Purpose: To analyze the efficiency and acceptance by the trainees of the Eyesi Surgical simulator,  as a part of the ESCRS moving simulators program with partnership with Bulgarian Society of Ophthalmology.

Specialised Eye Hospital -Varna, facilitated by the Bulgarian Society of Ophthalmology

Methods: For the period of 1 month 26 residents between 3-rd and last year were trained in a coupled manner. The two trainees were instructed by experienced trainer and had a two days for consecutive training. The first 6 hours were for the basic module, where the fine skills were trained, followed by cataract steps, as instructed by the mentor. Each trainee was supposed to work 45 minutes and rest 45 minutes. The of simulator time was used to watch a training movies. The results from the simulator, as well the specially designed questionnaire were analyzed.

Results: All 26 trainees  completed their program. The residents were from 12 different training centers (Sofia, Stara Zagora, Burgas, Shomen, Russe, Plovdiv, Varna and Pleven).  The average time for the first module was 3.01 hours (range 2.3 and 4.5), but for the specialty cataract module increased to 5.6 hours (range 4.3-7.0). The average time per person was 4.5 hours per day and 9.1 hours for the entire session.  There was small performance disparities between the two participants, but the larger deviations were between different couples.  The trainee feedback was “very good to excellent”  with 91% readiness for recommendation to peers. The long term feedback was that 8 people were able to do hands on cataract training within 3 months.

Conclusions: Simulator training is the modality of the future, a step in preparation for real life cataract surgery. It is well accepted by the trainees. The cost of it however, must be justified.