Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Exploring the use of driving simulation to improve robotic surgery simulator training: an observational case–control study

  • Research
  • Published:
Journal of Robotic Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The correlation between driving skills and the ability to perform robotic surgery have not yet been discussed. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the impact of driving skills on learning robotic surgery using a driving simulator and a robotic simulator. Sixty robot- and simulator-naïve participants were recruited: 30 with a driver’s license and 30 without a driver’s license. All participants completed a test on the driving simulator and learned four tasks using a robotic surgical simulator (dV-Trainer). On the driving simulator, the lap time in the driver’s license group (D-Group) was significantly lower than that in the non-driver’s license group (ND-Group) [217.93 ± 42.79 s vs. 271.24 ± 46.63 s, P < 0.001]. The average number of tires off track in the D-Group was lower than that in the ND-Group (0.13 ± 0.35 vs. 0.57 ± 0.63, P = 0.002). The baseline score of the D-Group on the robotic simulator was higher than that of the ND-Group (467.53 ± 107.62 vs. 385.53 ± 136.30, P = 0.022). In the Pick-and-Place-Clutching, Peg-Board-2, and Thread-the-Rings-1 tasks, the learning curve of the D-Group was steeper than that of the ND-Group. However, no significant difference was observed in the Match-Board-2 task. According to the lap time ranking, participants in the top tertile had a steeper learning curve than those in the bottom tertile, especially for the Pick-and-Place-Clutching and Peg-Board-2 tasks (P < 0.05). Significant differences were also found in the baseline and final stages of the Thread-the-Rings-1 task and in the initial stage of the Match-Board-2 task (P < 0.05). Students with a driver’s license or better performance in racing games had more success in learning robotic surgery. Driving simulators may promote robotic surgery training.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors upon reasonable request.

References

  1. Chen R, Rodrigues Armijo P, Krause C, Siu KC, Oleynikov D (2020) A comprehensive review of robotic surgery curriculum and training for residents, fellows, and postgraduate surgical education. Surg Endosc 34:361–367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-019-06775-1

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Moglia A, Ferrari V, Morelli L, Ferrari M, Mosca F, Cuschieri A (2016) A systematic review of virtual reality simulators for robot-assisted surgery. Eur Urol 69:1065–1080. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2015.09.021

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Lendvay TS, Brand TC, White L, Kowalewski T, Jonnadula S, Mercer LD, Khorsand D, Andros J, Hannaford B, Satava RM (2013) Virtual reality robotic surgery warm-up improves task performance in a dry laboratory environment: a prospective randomized controlled study. J Am Coll Surg 216:1181–1192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2013.02.012

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  4. Shee K, Ghali FM, Hyams ES (2017) Practice makes perfect: Correlations between prior experience in high-level athletics and robotic surgical performance do not persist after task repetition. J Surg Educ 74:630–637. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2016.12.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Moglia A, Perrone V, Ferrari V, Morelli L, Boggi U, Ferrari M, Mosca F, Cuschieri A (2017) Influence of videogames and musical instruments on performances at a simulator for robotic surgery. Minim Invasive Ther Allied Technol 26:129–134. https://doi.org/10.1080/13645706.2016.1267018

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Goode N, Salmon PM, Lenné MG (2013) Simulation-based driver and vehicle crew training: applications, efficacy and future directions. Appl Ergon 44:435–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2012.10.007

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Gallagher AG, Leonard G, Traynor OJ (2009) Role and feasibility of psychomotor and dexterity testing in selection for surgical training. ANZ J Surg 79:108–113. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1445-2197.2008.04824.x

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Lee JY, Mucksavage P, Kerbl DC, Huynh VB, Etafy M, McDougall EM (2012) Validation study of a virtual reality robotic simulator–role as an assessment tool? J Urol 187:998–1002. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.juro.2011.10.160

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Perrenot C, Perez M, Tran N, Jehl JP, Felblinger J, Bresler L, Hubert J (2012) The virtual reality simulator dV-Trainer (®) is a valid assessment tool for robotic surgical skills. Surg Endosc 26:2587–2593. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-012-2237-0

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Foell K, Furse A, Honey RJ, Pace KT, Lee JY (2013) Multidisciplinary validation study of the da Vinci Skills Simulator: educational tool and assessment device. J Robot Surg 7:365–369. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-013-0403-6

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bernstein J, Roye S, Calamia M, De Vito A (2019) Utility of a novel simulator paradigm in the assessment of driving ability in individuals with and without attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. Atten Defic Hyperact Disord 11:403–411. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12402-019-00303-w

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Bernstein JPK, Calamia M, De Vito A, Cherry KE, Keller JN (2020) Multimethod assessment of driving in older adults using a novel driving simulator. Appl Neuropsychol Adult. https://doi.org/10.1080/23279095.2020.1769098

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Hvolbek AP, Nilsson PM, Sanguedolce F, Lund L (2019) A prospective study of the effect of video games on robotic surgery skills using the high-fidelity virtual reality RobotiX simulator. Adv Med Educ Pract 10:627–634. https://doi.org/10.2147/AMEP.S199323

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Gupta A, Lawendy B, Goldenberg MG, Grober E, Lee JY, Perlis N (2021) Can video games enhance surgical skills acquisition for medical students? a systematic review. Surgery 169:821–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2020.11.034

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Nomura T, Miyashita M, Shrestha S, Makino H, Nakamura Y, Aso R, Yoshimura A, Shimura T, Akira S, Tajiri T (2008) Can interview prior to laparoscopic simulator training predict a trainee’s skills? J Surg Educ 65:335–339. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2008.07.008

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Abe T, Raison N, Shinohara N, Shamim Khan M, Ahmed K, Dasgupta P (2018) The effect of visual-spatial ability on the learning of robot-assisted surgical skills. J Surg Educ 75:458–464. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2017.08.017

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Badurdeen S, Abdul-Samad O, Story G, Wilson C, Down S, Harris A (2010) Nintendo Wii video-gaming ability predicts laparoscopic skill. Surg Endosc 24:1824–1828. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-009-0862-z

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Rosser JC Jr, Lynch PJ, Cuddihy L, Gentile DA, Klonsky J, Merrell R (2007) The impact of video games on training surgeons in the 21st century. Arch Surg 142:181–186. https://doi.org/10.1001/archsurg.142.2.181

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Schlickum MK, Hedman L, Enochsson L, Kjellin A, Felländer-Tsai L (2009) Systematic video game training in surgical novices improves performance in virtual reality endoscopic surgical simulators: a prospective randomized study. World J Surg 33:2360–2367. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-009-0151-y

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Harrington CM, Chaitanya V, Dicker P, Traynor O, Kavanagh DO (2018) Playing to your skills: a randomised controlled trial evaluating a dedicated video game for minimally invasive surgery. Surg Endosc 32:3813–3821. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-018-6107-2

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all the volunteers in this study.

Funding

This work was supported by Provincial Teaching and Research Project of Colleges and Universities in Hubei Province (Grant No. 2022013); and the Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University Science, Technology and Innovation Seed Fund (Grant No. znpy2019003).

Author information

Author notes

  1. Ziyan Chen and Yu Xuan Zhengg have contributed equally to this study and share the role of the first author.

  2. Kun Yang and XingHuan Wang have contributed equally to this study and share the role of the corresponding author.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Urology, ZhongNan Hospital, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Ziyan Chen, Lingxiao Jiang, Kun Yang & XingHuan Wang

  2. Medicine-Remote Mapping Associated Laboratory, Wuhan University, No. 169 Donghu Road, Wuhan, 430071, Hubei, China

    Ziyan Chen, Lingxiao Jiang, Kun Yang & XingHuan Wang

  3. University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China

    Yu Xuan Zheng

  4. Department of Urology, CHU Nancy, Nancy, France

    Jacques Hubert

  5. IADI/Inserm U947, Lorraine University, Nancy, France

    Jacques Hubert

Authors
  1. Ziyan Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Yu Xuan Zheng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jacques Hubert
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lingxiao Jiang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Kun Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. XingHuan Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by ZC, Yu XZ and LJ. The first draft of the manuscript was written by ZC and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Kun Yang or XingHuan Wang.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

Ziyan Chen, Yu Xuan Zheng, Jacques Hubert, Lingxiao Jiang, Kun Yang, and Xing Huan Wang have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Chen, Z., Zheng, Y.X., Hubert, J. et al. Exploring the use of driving simulation to improve robotic surgery simulator training: an observational case–control study. J Robotic Surg 17, 2177–2185 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-023-01641-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11701-023-01641-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation