Comparative effectiveness of telesimulation versus standard simulation for pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)...

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS)

Background:

• On-site simulation-based surgical education has been a part of resident curricula since 2012.
• The COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the development of a Tele-assisted Essential Skills Training Module (T-ESTM) due to social distancing protocols.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the comparative effectiveness of telesimulation (T) versus standard simulation (S) for training essential minimally invasive surgery (MIS) skills.

Main Methods:

• The study involved 20 participants per group (Telesimulation and Standard Simulation).
• Both groups underwent an Essential Skills Training Module (ESTM) including lectures and 7 hands-on tasks.
• Assessments included scoring (adapted from GOALS) and timing for 3 tasks, with data analyzed using R-studio.

Main Results:

• Both telesimulation and standard simulation groups showed significant improvement in task scores and reduced completion times (p < 0.001).
• No statistically significant differences in performance were observed between the telesimulation and standard simulation groups.
• Similar skill acquisition was achieved through both remote and on-site training methods.

Conclusions:

• Telesimulation is a reproducible and effective educational tool for remote MIS essential skills training.
• It should be considered a viable alternative to traditional on-site simulation programs.
• Remote simulation maintains educational quality and accessibility in surgical training.