Face validation of the Virtual Electrosurgery Skill Trainer (VEST©)

Abstract

Background Electrosurgery is a modality that is widely used in surgery, whose use has resulted in injuries, OR fires and even death. The SAGES has established the FUSE program to address the knowledge gap in the proper and safe usage of electrosurgical devices. Complementing it, we have developed the Virtual Electrosurgery Skill Trainer (VEST©), which is designed to train subjects in both cognitive and motor skills necessary to safely operate electrosurgical devices. The objective of this study is to asses the face validity of the VEST© simulator. Methods Sixty-three subjects were recruited at the 2014 SAGES Learning Center. They all completed the monopolar electrosurgery module on the VEST© simulator. At the end of the study, subjects assessed the face validity with questions that were scored on a 5-point Likert scale. Results The subjects were divided into two groups; FUSE experience (n = 15) and no FUSE experience (n = 48). The median score for both the groups was 4 or higher on all questions and 5 on questions on effectiveness of VEST© in aiding learning electrosurgery fundamentals. Questions on using the simulator in their own skills lab and recommending it to their peers also scored at 5. Mann-Whitney U test showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) indicating a general agreement. 46 % of the respondents preferred VEST compared to 52 % who preferred animal model and 2 % preferred both for training in electrosurgery. Conclusion This study demonstrated the face validity of the VEST © simulator. High scores showed that the simulator was visually realistic and reproduced lifelike tissue effects and the features were adequate enough to provide high realism. The self-learning instructional material was also found to be very useful in learning the fundamentals of electrosurgery. Adding more modules would increase the applicability of the VEST© simulator.

A task and performance analysis of endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) surgery

“…A high-fidelity VR simulator would allow for skills training in both the advanced psychomotor and cognitive skills aspects of ESD. The simulator can be used to train not only endoscopists but also other operating room (OR) personnel (endoscopy nurses and technicians) in all of procedural aspects [23]. The advantages of endoscopy-based VR simulators can be summarized as: (1) no ethical dilemma with initial training through an apprentice model on human subjects, with no risk of harm to the patient or malpractice, since no-human subject is involved [24]; (2) repeatable on different tumor-types and sizes; (3) affordable compared to recurrent costs of other animate and inanimate training models [25,26]; (4) potentially reduced training time with a steeper learning curve once human ESD work commences [27]; (5) and quantifiable measurement for both assessment and training [28].…”

Application of Electrosurgical Units by Operating Room Personnel: Development and Psychometric Testing of an Instrument

“…Moreover, the treatment of such burns costs nearly US$600 million, which imposes a huge financial burden on hospitals (7). In 2009, the American Emergency Care Research Institute reported 550 to 650 cases of fire in operating rooms, 68% of which were caused by ESUs (8). In recent years, patient safety in the operating room is a cause for concern (9).…”

FUSE certification enhances performance on a virtual computer based simulator for dispersive electrode placement

“…Its objective is to train surgeons in the motor and cognitive skills that are required to safely operate electrosurgery tools during open and minimally invasive procedures. A monopolar electrosurgery module was demonstrated at the 2014 SAGES learning center and users rated the module as realistic and useful to learning the fundamentals of electrosurgery [6]. A virtual OR fire training and prevention module was demonstrated at the 2015 SAGES learning center where the simulator was highly rated for its effectiveness and usefulness for OR fire safety and training [7].…”