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Fast or safe? The role of impulsiveness in laparoscopic simulator performance
Bas Kengen1, Wouter M IJgosse1, Harry van Goor1
1Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein zuid 10, 6525 GA, Nijmegen, Gelderland, the Netherlands.
American Journal of Surgery
|March 9, 2020
Summary
Impulsive surgeons caused more damage in laparoscopic simulations. Lower impulsiveness correlated with fewer errors, suggesting personality traits impact surgical skill acquisition and performance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Surgical Simulation
- Psychology
Background:
- Impulsiveness in high-risk professions can lead to hazardous behavior.
- The relationship between impulsiveness and surgical performance is not well understood.
- This study investigates impulsiveness in laparoscopic surgical simulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the effect of impulsiveness on laparoscopic simulator performance.
- To compare the performance of high-impulsiveness versus low-impulsiveness surgical trainees.
Main Methods:
- Eighty-three subjects were divided into high- and low-impulsiveness groups using the Eysenck Personality test.
- Participants completed a four-session laparoscopic training course.
- Performance was assessed on two simulators: LapSim virtual reality trainer and FLS videotrainer, measuring task duration and errors.
Main Results:
- The low impulsiveness group demonstrated significantly less damage on the LapSim simulator (p < .049).
- A trend towards better error performance was observed in the low impulsiveness group on the FLS videotrainer.
- No significant differences in task duration were found between the groups.
Conclusions:
- High impulsiveness in surgical simulation is linked to increased tissue damage.
- Impulsiveness does not appear to affect the speed of surgical task performance.
- The time spent correcting errors may mask potential speed advantages in highly impulsive individuals.
