A Comparison of Three Simulators for Colposcopy LEEP Training

Colposcopy and colposcopic treatment is a unique skill that is acquired only following careful training. A colposcopist plays an important role to correctly diagnose, take appropriate biopsies and perform appropriate safe and effective treatment of women with preinvasive cervical disease. However, no surgical treatment comes without risk and colposcopy treatment is no different. Risks from a colposcopy treatment can include intraoperative complication such as bleeding, injury to surrounding organs by the instrument used i.e. laser burns, diathermy burns and damage to bladder, rectum, vulva or vagina. Other complication may include insufficient tissue excised or ablated during treatment leading to failure of cure and risk of recurrent treatment. Recurrent treatment especially excisional treatment has been shown to increase the risk of preterm labour for future pregnancies. In view of this, training in colposcopy and colposcopy treatment is a crucial part of effective cervical cancer prevention.

In this study, the investigators aim to determine if Hefler's, Reeve's or authors' simulators are more effective at supporting the colposcopy training. The significance of the result lies in the effectiveness of training simulator for colposcopy training and the confidence of doctors when they perform their first colposcopy.