Effects of virtual reality simulator training method and observational learning on surgical performance

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery

Background:

• Virtual reality (VR) simulators and web-based videos are supplemental tools for surgical training.
• Optimal integration of these resources into minimally invasive surgical training remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of proctored versus independent virtual reality (VR) simulator training.
• To evaluate the impact of observing a procedure versus watching an instructional video on surgical task performance.

Main Methods:

• Medical students were randomized to VR simulator training using either proctored (simulator + human feedback) or independent (simulator feedback only) methods.
• Trainees performed laparoscopic and endoscopic tasks in a porcine model after achieving simulator proficiency.
• The effect of VR training method and procedure observation on task completion time was analyzed using Cox regression.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in successful task completion was found between proctored and independent VR training (HR 1.28, p=0.09).
• Trainees who observed the actual procedure demonstrated a higher likelihood of successful task completion compared to those who only watched an instructional video (HR 1.47, p=0.01).

Conclusions:

• Proctored VR training offers no significant advantage over independent VR training for surgical performance.
• Human expert feedback during VR training may not be essential, potentially saving time.
• Actual procedure observation is more beneficial than instructional videos for learning minimally invasive surgical skills.