Construct validity of nine new inanimate exercises for robotic surgeon training using a standardized setup

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Robotic Surgery Training
• Medical Simulation

Background:

• Validated training tools are crucial for surgeons mastering robotic systems.
• Nine new inanimate exercises were developed to target core robotic surgery skills.
• The study aimed to establish the construct validity of these novel training exercises.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the construct validity of nine new inanimate training exercises for robot-assisted surgery.
• To assess the effectiveness of these exercises in differentiating skill levels between new and experienced robotic surgeons.
• To provide a foundation for integrating these exercises into proficiency-based surgical curricula.

Main Methods:

• Thirty new and eleven experienced robotic surgeons performed nine standardized inanimate exercises.
• Performance was evaluated using raw scores, normalized scores (balancing time and errors), and kinematic data.
• A custom docking model was employed to ensure consistent and repeatable robot setup.

Main Results:

• Experienced surgeons significantly outperformed new surgeons in speed and normalized scores across all nine exercises (p < 0.01).
• The custom docking model facilitated consistent robot setup, validated by kinematic analysis.
• All nine exercises demonstrated significant differences between surgeon groups, supporting their construct validity.

Conclusions:

• The nine inanimate exercises possess construct validity for robot-assisted surgery training.
• The exercises and custom docking model are suitable for proficiency-based curricula.
• These tools can effectively contribute to improving robotic surgeon skills and patient safety.