Abstract
Background
The Minimally Invasive Surgical Trainer-Virtual Reality (MIST-VR) simulator is validated for laparoscopy training, but benchmarks and target scores for assessing single tasks are needed.
Methods
Control data for the MIST-VR traversal task scenario were collected from 61 novices who performed the task 10 times over 3 days (1 h daily). Data were collected on the time taken, error score, economy of movement, and total score. Test differences were analyzed through percentage scores and t-tests for paired samples.
Results
Improvement was greatest over tests 1 to 5 (improvement: test1.2, 38.07%; p = 0.000; test4.5, 10.66%; p = 0.010): between tests 5 and 10, improvement slowed and scores stabilized. Variation in participants’ performance fell steadily over the 10 tests.
Conclusion
Trainees should perform at least 10 tests of the traversal task—five to get used to the equipment and task (automation phase; target total score, 95.16) and five to stabilize and consolidate performance (test 10 target total score, 74.11).
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Acknowledgments
We thank Michael Erdtmann from the ESI, Norderstedt, Germany, for valuable technical advice with the MIST-VR database and Prof. Manfred Nagelschmidt from the Biochemical and Experimental Division (University of Cologne, Germany) for valuable advice in preparing the manuscript.
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Hackethal, A., Immenroth, M. & Bürger, T. Evaluation of target scores and benchmarks for the traversal task scenario of the minimally invasive surgical trainer-virtual reality (MIST-VR) laparoscopy simulator. Surg Endosc 20, 645–650 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-004-2224-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-004-2224-1