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Saving robots improves laparoscopic performance: transfer of skills from a serious game to a virtual reality simulator

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Abstract

Background

Residents find it hard to commit to structural laparoscopic skills training. Serious gaming has been proposed as a solution on the premise that it is effective and more motivating than traditional simulation. We establish construct validity for the laparoscopic serious game Underground by comparing laparoscopic simulator performance for a control group and an Underground training group.

Methods

A four-session laparoscopic basic skills course is part of the medical master students surgical internship at the Radboud University Medical Centre. Four cohorts, representing 107 participants, were assigned to either the Underground group or the control group. The control group trained on the FLS video trainer and the LapSim virtual reality simulator for four sessions. The Underground group played Underground for three sessions followed by a transfer session on the FLS video trainer and the LapSim. To assess the effect of engaging in serious gameplay on performance on two validated laparoscopic simulators, initial performance on the FLS video trainer and the LapSim was compared between the control group (first session) and the Underground group (fourth session).

Results

We chose task duration as a proxy for laparoscopic performance. The Underground group outperformed the control group on all three LapSim tasks: Camera navigation F(1) = 12.71, p < .01; Instrument navigation F(1) = 8.04, p < .01; and Coordination F(1) = 6.36, p = .01. There was no significant effect of playing Underground for performance on the FLS video trainer Peg Transfer task, F(1) = 0.28, p = .60.

Conclusions

We demonstrated skills transfer between a serious game and validated laparoscopic simulator technology. Serious gaming may become a valuable, cost-effective addition to the skillslab, if transfer to the operating room can be established. Additionally, we discuss sources of transferable skills to help explain our and previous findings.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein zuid 10 (route 618), 6525 GA, Nijmegen, Gelderland, The Netherlands

    Wouter M. IJgosse, Harry van Goor & Jan-Maarten Luursema

  2. PO Box 9101 (960), 6500 HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Wouter M. IJgosse

Authors
  1. Wouter M. IJgosse
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  2. Harry van Goor
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  3. Jan-Maarten Luursema
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Correspondence to Wouter M. IJgosse.

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Disclosures

Mr. IJgosse, Prof Dr. van Goor and Dr. Luursema have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

Additional information

Construct validity was investigated for a laparoscopic game by comparing simulator performance for a gaming group and a control group. We demonstrated skills transfer between a serious game and a validated laparoscopic simulator.

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IJgosse, W.M., van Goor, H. & Luursema, JM. Saving robots improves laparoscopic performance: transfer of skills from a serious game to a virtual reality simulator. Surg Endosc 32, 3192–3199 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6036-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6036-0

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