Assessing oral surgery residents' competencies and training needs in tomography interfaces through a usability...

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) plays a critical role in oral and maxillofacial surgery (OMFS), yet the training needs of residents regarding CBCT viewer interfaces remain underexplored. Effective utilization of these interfaces is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning. This study aims to assess OMFS residents' competencies in CBCT viewer interfaces and identify training gaps through a usability framework.

OMFS residents participated in a usability evaluation of five CBCT viewer interfaces (VIS: Icad Vision, NNT: Newtom, ODM: OnDemand, OVV: OneVolume Viewer, ROM: Planmeca Romexis). Effectiveness was measured through task completion rates, efficiency through task duration, mouse clicks, and cursor distance, and satisfaction using the System Usability Scale (SUS) and the Computer System Usability Questionnaire (CSUQ). Statistical analysis included Friedman and Dunn's tests with Benjamini-Hochberg correction.

Residents reported receiving no hands-on CBCT training and relied only on verbal instruction during dental school, suggesting a lack of structured training. All of them successfully completed tasks on all interfaces, indicating 100% effectiveness. However, significant differences in efficiency and satisfaction were observed, reflecting varying levels of proficiency and highlighting areas where further training could be beneficial. VIS interface required significantly more time (198.4 ± 70.44 s) and mouse clicks (69.82 ± 33.17, p < 0.05) compared to other interfaces, suggesting a need for additional practice with this interface. The ODM interface achieved the highest SUS score (69.89 ± 22.79), while the VIS interface had the lowest (41.82 ± 22.90) (p < 0.05). Only ODM approached the industry-standard threshold for user satisfaction, while the remaining systems failed to meet this criterion.

This study highlights the need for structured training in CBCT viewer interfaces for OMFS residents. Findings suggest that a standardized, hands-on multi-software program should be integrated into residency curricula to improve efficiency, reduce cognitive load, and enhance clinical decision-making. Future research should focus on the long-term impact of usability-driven training on clinical performance and patient outcomes.