Proficiency Based Robotics Training Curriculum: Skill Acquisition & Transferability of Skills to Live Porcine Models

George Washington University (GW)

Status: Completed

Conditions: Medical Students Naive to Surgical Robotics

Treatments: Behavioral: Surgical Simulation Practice Modules

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT02895347

111547

Details and patient eligibility

About

The goal of the project is to define the optimal learning environment and protocol for dvSS® simulation activities using medical students as robotic-naïve research participants.

Full description

The goal of the project is to define the optimal learning environment and protocol for dvSS® simulation activities using medical students as robotic-naïve research participants. The investigators propose to accomplish this goal through the following aims:

Specific Aim #1: to investigate the total training time and the total number of repetitions required for participants to achieve proficiency (as defined on the dvSS® as 91%) for each of the selected exercises in selected dVSS activities.

Specific Aim #2: to measure the transferability of skills acquired through a robotic simulation to live porcine models compared to nonintervention controls. The study will compare the effect of training with the dVSS to similar nonintervention controls by grading a suturing procedure on a live porcine model.

Findings generated from this study will provide new insight into the efficacy of the dVSS as a simulation- based training tool for medical practitioners. Collectively, this work will build upon the narrow knowledge base on how to develop a nationally accredited simulation-based robotics curriculum.

This study undoubtedly furthers the GWU SMHS mission of education, research, and healing. The study seeks to understand the learning curve students can achieve by simulation-based training and then to directly apply that training to a safe in vivo model in order to determine training interventions that can inform a robotic curriculum both locally at GWU and throughout the country. Additionally, this study is innovative in that it is the first of its kind to correlate skills acquired on a robotic-simulation gynecology based tool to a live porcine model. It seeks to enhance the current GWU GYN robotics- curriculum and assist with the development of a specific curriculum within the next year. Although the immediate goal is for planning toward a gynecology robotic curriculum, results of this study could also inform development of robotic programs in other disciplines such as general surgery and urology. Considering, the limited development of simulation-based robotics curriculum, further refining the curriculum would allow GWU to continue "to be globally recognized as a medical center that embraces the challenge of...transforming health care, and expanding research to enrich and improve the lives of those [served]." It also serves to "leverage the SMHS brand to enhance opportunities for recognition, distinction..& marketing." Preparing a generation of well-trained and confident gynecologic surgeons will allow providers to administer safe care to women.

Enrollment: 36 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• medical & physician assistant students at George Washington University with no prior experience using a surgical robot

Exclusion criteria

• medical & physician assistant students at George Washington University with prior experience using a surgical robot
• students not enrolled in the medical or physician assistant program at George Washington University

Trial design

Primary purpose: Other

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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36 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

No Intervention group

Description:

Participants in the Control Group (CG) were asked to attend an orientation reviewing the study. Three weeks later they returned and were filmed timed completing a suturing activity on the porcine model.

Experimental Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in the Experimental Group (EG) were asked to attend an orientation reviewing the study. Then they were instructed to complete 4 activities on the dvSS ® that modeled suturing techniques in minimally invasive robotics-assisted surgery. EG participants repeated these 4 activities over a period of 2 weeks until they reached proficiency (91%) in all 4 activities. 4. Participants were asked to return where they were filmed and timed completing a suturing activity on the porcine model.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Surgical Simulation Practice Modules