Learning curves of basic laparoscopic psychomotor skills in SINERGIA VR simulator

Abstract

Purpose Surgical simulators are currently essential within any laparoscopic training program because they provide a low-stakes, reproducible and reliable environment to acquire basic skills. The purpose of this study is to determine the training learning curve based on different metrics corresponding to Ave tasks included in SINERGIA laparoscopic virtual reality simulator. Methods Thirty medical students without surgical experience participated in the study. Five tasks of SINERGIA were included: Coordination, Navigation, Navigation and touch, Accurate grasping and Coordinated pulling. Each participant was trained in SINERGIA. This training consisted of eight sessions (R1-R8) of the Ave mentioned tasks and was carried out in two consecutive days with four sessions per day. A statistical analysis was made, and the results of Rl, R4 and R8 were pair-wise compared with Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significance is considered at P value <0.005. Results In total, 84.38 % of the metrics provided by SINER-GIA and included in this study show significant differences when comparing Rl and R8. Metrics are mostly improved in the Arst session of training (75.00 % when Rl and R4 are compared vs. 37.50 % when R4 and R8 are compared). In tasks Coordination and Navigation and touch, all metrics psychomotor skills are improved. On the other hand, Navigation just improves 60 % of the analyzed metrics. Most learning curves show an improvement with better results in the fulfillment of the different tasks. Conclusions Learning curves of metrics that assess the basic psychomotor laparoscopic skills acquired in SINERGIA virtual reality simulator show a faster learning rate during the Arst part of the training. Nevertheless, eight repetitions of the tasks are not enough to acquire all psychomotor skills that can be trained in SINERGIA. Therefore, and based on these results together with previous works, SINERGIA could be used as training tool with a properly designed training program.

Virtual Reality in Medical Students’ Education: Scoping Review

“…In terms of immersion, most of the studies included modalities that were semi-immersive (68/114, 59.6%) [ 36 , 37 , 42 - 44 , 47 , 49 , 51 , 53 , 55 , 56 , 59 , 61 , 66 , 67 , 69 , 73 , 75 , 81 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 88 , 89 , 91 , 93 , 94 , 96 , 99 - 101 , 103 , 106 , 108 , 109 , 111 - 117 , 120 , 121 , 123 - 129 , 131 - 139 , 142 , 146 , 156 , 166 , 168 - 170 , 176 ], followed by nonimmersive (26/114, 22.8%) [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 45 , 50 , 54 , 58 , 62 , 63 , 65 , 68 , 71 , 72 , 76 - 78 , 85 ,…”

“…With a focus on surgical psychomotor skills, most of these VR modalities involved the handling of laparoscopic surgeries (39/71, 55%). Of these 39 studies, 23 (59%) explored basic laparoscopic handling skills [ 49 , 59 , 67 , 74 , 79 , 81 , 83 , 84 , 86 , 96 , 99 , 105 , 108 , 111 , 113 , 117 , 118 , 123 , 128 , 130 , 131 , 148 ] and 16 (41%) explored advanced laparoscopic surgery procedures [ 75 , 82 , 87 , 89 , 91 , 94 , 106 , 110 , 119 , 122 , 125 , 129 , 132 , 134 , 136 , 137 ] such as cholecystectomy, appendectomy, salpingectomy, and Nissen fundoplication.…”

The evolution of surgical virtual education and telementoring: One surgeon's journey

“…2012—Sánchez‐Peralta 46 showed how the SINERGIA Laparoscopic VR Stimulator improved mentees' skill acquisition when performing a laparoscopic task.…”

Effect of virtual reality technology on the teaching of urban railway vehicle engineering

“…Surgical simulators are currently essential for any laparoscopic training program, because they can provide a low‐stakes, reproducible, and reliable environment for acquisition of basic skills. Learning curves of metrics presented a faster learning rate during the first part of the training [33]. A new telerehabilitation system based on VR technology was developed for training of paralyzed upper and lower extremities and poor balance in patients with stroke.…”