Is proctoring in robotic surgery truly helpful? Evaluating general surgeons' perspectives

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Robotic Surgery

Background:

• Proctoring is a proven training method in minimally invasive surgery.
• Robotic surgery adoption is increasing, highlighting the need for effective training.
• Surgeon perspectives on proctoring in robotic surgery are not well-documented.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess general surgeons' perceptions of proctoring in robotic surgery.
• To evaluate proctoring's impact on learning curves, operative times, and practice integration.
• To gather qualitative feedback on proctoring benefits and areas for improvement.

Main Methods:

• An online survey was distributed to general surgeons who had undergone proctoring.
• 32 surgeons completed the survey, providing quantitative and qualitative data.
• Statistical analysis was used to assess the association between proctoring and outcomes.

Main Results:

• A significant reduction in the learning curve was associated with the number of proctored cases (p=0.0019).
• Surgeons reported increased confidence in managing complex robotic cases (p=0.0051).
• Proctoring correlated with increased adoption of robotic surgery in daily practice (p=0.015).

Conclusions:

• Proctoring is a valuable educational tool for surgeons adopting robotic surgery.
• It effectively shortens the learning curve, enhances confidence, and facilitates practice integration.
• Personalized guidance and constructive feedback are key to effective proctoring.