Immersive Virtual Reality Environment for Complex Cognitive Skills Curricular Training in Liver Surgery

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Hepatobiliary Neoplasm
• Interventions: Behavioral: Clinical decision making based on visualizing liver 3D models in Virtual Reality (VR) environment or via a Desktop Interface (DI)

• Registration Number: NCT04959630
• Lead Sponsor: University Hospital, Ghent

Brief Summary

Investigators hypothesize that a virtual reality (VR) environment enhances general surgery residents' performance compared to Desktop Interface (DI)-based visualization of 3D models in decision making for patients with liver tumors. To determine this, a proficiency-based stepwise training curriculum for preoperative planning has been developed using both modalities. The overall objective of the curriculum is that by the end of the training program, residents would be able to formulate a treatment plan for patients with liver tumors.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2020-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2021-04-19
• Study Completion: 2021-06-15
• Study First Submitted: 2021-06-21
• Status Verified: 2021-07
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-07-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-07-01
• Study First Posted: 2021-07-13
• Last Update Posted: 2021-07-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

• General surgery residents irrespective of their postgraduate year

Exclusion Criteria

• No inform consent
• Residents of other specialties

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Group A	Clinical decision making based on visualizing liver 3D models in Virtual Reality (VR) environment or via a Desktop Interface (DI)	Group A received first five patient cases and 3D models via DI and another five cases in the VR environment
Group B	Clinical decision making based on visualizing liver 3D models in Virtual Reality (VR) environment or via a Desktop Interface (DI)	Group B received first five patient cases and 3D models via VR and another five cases in the DI.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Residents' decision-making accuracy	Immediately after completing the educational intervention	Residents' decision-making accuracy when reviewing patient data and 3D liver models using DI or VR, measured by comparing their performance to experts' opinions.; The measurement tool will be a questionnaire consisting of ten questions, rate of correct answers will be recorded (e.g. 8/10 correct answers) and higher scores mean a better outcome.; Minimum score=0; Maximum score=10.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Cognitive knowledge retention	Baseline and immediately after completing the educational intervention	Retention of knowledge assessed by validated multiple choice questions. Questionnaire consisted of 15 questions will be used, rate of correct answers will be recorded (e.g. 8/15 correct answers), and higher scores mean a better outcome.; Minimum score=0; Maximum score=15.
Residents' scores in recognizing intrahepatic structures and liver segments	Immediately after completing the educational intervention	Assessed by recognizing intrahepatic structures and 8 liver segments. Questionnaire consisted of 22 questions will be used, rate of correct answers will be recorded (e.g. 8/22 correct answers), and higher scores mean a better outcome.; Minimum score=0; Maximum score=22.
Time needed to devise a surgical plan using the DI or VR platform	Immediately after completing the educational intervention	Assessed by total time needed to make decision for 10 patient cases in minutes

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Ghent University Hospital; 🇧🇪 Ghent, Belgium

Federico II University; 🇮🇹 Naples, Italy