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Cold-start capability in virtual-reality laparoscopic camera navigation: a base for tailored training in undergraduates

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Abstract

Background

Frequently medical students have to fulfill the role as the camera operator in laparoscopic procedures. Published work concerning camera navigation skills, especially in medical students, is rare. Therefore, our purpose was to evaluate personal characteristics and abilities that may affect virtual-reality laparoscopic camera navigation (VR-LCN) performance in a large cohort of first-time virtual-reality laparoscopy users.

Methods

First-time virtual-reality laparoscopy users (n = 488) were enrolled prospectively. The tasks included VR-LCN using a 0° and 30° angled laparoscope separately. Scores were correlated with demographics and students’ self-assessment in univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

Six variables were associated with better VR-LCN results in the univariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, only male gender (odds ratio 2.3, 95 % confidence interval 1.4–3.9; p = 0.002) and higher self-confidence to assist in a laparoscopic operation (odds ratio 1.7, 95 % confidence interval 1.1–2.6; p = 0.014) were identified as predictive factors for a better 30° angled VR-LCN performance.

Conclusions

Our study indicates that medical students’ self-confidence regarding their ability to navigate a camera in a laparoscopic procedure and male gender predict a better first-time VR-LCN performance. These findings may provide a basis for a tailored educational approach.

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Acknowledgments

Supported in part by a grant from the medical education project “MAICUM” from the University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University and supported by the BMBF-funded IZKS/CHIR-NetMainz 01KN1103/01GH1001B.

Disclosures

Drs. Paschold, Niebisch, Kronfeld, Herzer, Lang, and Kneist have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Markus Paschold, Stefan Niebisch, Hauke Lang & Werner Kneist

  2. Surgical Trial Unit (CHIR-Net), Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Trials (IZKS), University Medicine of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Kai Kronfeld

  3. Department of Quality-Management and -Development, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Langenbeckstraße 1, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Manfred Herzer

Authors
  1. Markus Paschold
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  2. Stefan Niebisch
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  3. Kai Kronfeld
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  4. Manfred Herzer
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  5. Hauke Lang
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  6. Werner Kneist
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Correspondence to Werner Kneist.

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Paschold, M., Niebisch, S., Kronfeld, K. et al. Cold-start capability in virtual-reality laparoscopic camera navigation: a base for tailored training in undergraduates. Surg Endosc 27, 2169–2177 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2735-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2735-0

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