The purpose of this study is to plan an effective learning path in minimally invasive thoracic and general surgery with a virtual training simulator for trainees and to assess the improvement of residents' surgical skills by the introduction of this virtual training program.

All thoracic and general surgery trainees at the first and second year of residency will be randomized in two groups: A) trainees undergoing an intensive (twice a week) virtual training program and B) those undergoing a non-intensive virtual training program (once a week).

The virtual training program will be organized in 4 modules, each of 12 weeks and, according to the training simulator instructions, for each surgical skill there are predetermined goals to be achieved by the trainee. Data about duration of surgical maneuvers and type and number of mistakes made by the trainee at each training session will be collected and compared with those of the same trainee at the previous session; this will assess the number of training sessions required to achieve the training simulator predetermined goals. Moreover, the same data will be registered at the beginning and at the end of each courses to compare the two groups of trainees (intensive vs non-intensive program).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Trainees at the first and second year of residency in thoracic or general surgery

Exclusion Criteria:

• Fully trained surgeons
• Persons who are not trainees at year of specialization higher than the second

Data that underlie the results reported in this article (text, tables, figures, and appendices)

Immediately following publication. No end date.

Proposals should be directed to andrea.imperatori@uninsubria.it