Kenneth W Bueltmann, MD, Marek Rudnicki, MD. Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
Introduction: Residency programs are increasingly challenged by the complexity of laparoscopic simulation technology and their utilization in the training curriculum. Common software can easily be leveraged to uniformly manage the prevalence of metrics which virtual reality simulators provide.
Methods: The third generation laparoscopic simulator was used to collect trials from the hand-eye coordination task of the Basic Skills Module. Sampling included residency applicants through PGY5 over a two year period. Existing software was leveraged to extract laparoscopic learner data from the simulators. Microsoft Suite was leveraged to extract and process the simulator data. A simplified score calculator was developed to consistently discern the level of training of the learner. Accumulated scores were subjected to ANOVA and Tukey’s standard range test using SAS Enterprise 6.1.
Results: Pooled candidate scores (n=538) had means and standard errors of 60.62±0.62, 58.08±2.49, 66.6±1.76, 68.22±2.80, 73.72±1.60, 74.81±1.84, for applicants through PGY5 groups, respectively. Significance was not found between applicants and interns, but differences were found between the applicants/interns groups and all upper levels through PGY5 (p<.001). PGY2 did not differ from PGY3 but was significantly different from PGY4 and PGY5 (p<.001). PGY3 did not differ from PGY4 or PGY5. PGY4 and PGY5 were not significantly different.
Conclusions: Use of a basic scoring system simplifies discrimination of laparoscopic learners. Using this simple tool, simulated procedural competency of the user can rapidly be assessed in an objective manner. It is expected that this novel tool will empower simulation trainers to more accurately tailor evidence-based feedback specifically for each learner’s performance level.
Presented at the SAGES 2017 Annual Meeting in Houston, TX.
Abstract ID: 80656
Program Number: P296
Presentation Session: Poster (Non CME)
Presentation Type: Poster
