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

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Medical Students Naive to Surgical Robotics
• Interventions: Behavioral: Surgical Simulation Practice Modules

• Registration Number: NCT02895347
• Lead Sponsor: George Washington University

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed 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.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2015-12
• Primary Completion: 2016-03
• Status Verified: 2016-09
• Study First Submitted: 2016-09-06
• Study First Submitted QC: 2016-09-06
• Study First Posted: 2016-09-09
• Study Completion: 2016-11
• Results First Submitted: 2016-12-14
• Results First Submitted QC: 2017-03-07
• Last Update Submitted: 2017-03-07
• Results First Posted: 2017-04-18
• Last Update Posted: 2017-04-18

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 36

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

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Experimental Group	Surgical Simulation Practice Modules	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Global Evaluative Assessment of Robotic Skills (GEARS) Scale	Three weeks after orientation	GEARS is a validated assessment tool for grading overall technical proficiency for robotic surgery. The overall proficiency score is a composite score of five different measures: depth perception, bimanual dexterity, efficiency, force sensitivity, and robotic control. Each of these subscale scores are graded 1-5, with 1 being poor and 5 being excellent. The total score is the summation of the scores from each of the five subscales and ranges from 5 to 25.
Amount Time to Suture	Three weeks after orientation	time, measured in minutes, it took each participant to perform the suturing activity
Amount of Time to Achieve Proficiency	assessed after the orientation and prior to the three week date for the final suturing assessment	time, measured in minutes, it took each participant in the intervention group to achieve surgical proficiency on the robotic simulator.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates; 🇺🇸 Washington, District of Columbia, United States