Gold Coast University Hospital, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
School of Medicine, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.
J Surg Res. 2021 Jun;262:159-164. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.01.003. Epub 2021 Feb 12.
This study aims to investigate if a smartphone laparoscopy simulator, SimuSurg, is effective in improving laparoscopic skills in surgically inexperienced medical students.
This is a single-blinded randomized controlled trial featuring 30 preclinical medical students without prior laparoscopic simulation experience. The students were randomly allocated to a control or intervention group (n = 15 each) and 28 students completed the study (n = 14 each). All participants performed three validated exercises in a laparoscopic box trainer and repeated them after 1 week. The intervention group spent the intervening time completing all levels in SimuSurg, whereas the control group refrained from any laparoscopic activity. A prestudy questionnaire was used to collect data on age, sex, handedness, and experience with gaming.
The total score improved significantly between the two testing sessions for the intervention group (n = 14, median change [MC] = 182.00, P = 0.009) but not for the control group (n = 14, MC = 161.50, P = 0.08). Scores for the nondominant hand improved significantly in the intervention group (MC = 66.50, P = 0.008) but not in the control group (MC = 9.00, P = 0.98). There was no improvement in dominant hand scores for either the intervention (MC = 62.00, P = 0.08) or control (MC = 26.00, P = 0.32) groups. Interest in surgery (β = -234.30, P = 0.02) was positively correlated with the baseline total scores; however, age, sex, and experience with video games were not.
The results suggest that smartphone applications improve laparoscopic skills in medical students, especially for the nondominant hand. These simulators may be a cost-effective and accessible adjunct for laparoscopic training among surgically inexperienced students and clinicians.
本研究旨在探究智能手机腹腔镜模拟器 SimuSurg 是否能有效提高无腹腔镜模拟经验的医学生的腹腔镜技能。
这是一项单盲随机对照试验，共有 30 名无前期腹腔镜模拟经验的临床医学预科生参与。学生被随机分配到对照组或干预组（每组 n=15），共有 28 名学生完成了研究（每组 n=14）。所有参与者均在腹腔镜箱式训练器上完成三项经过验证的练习，并在一周后重复练习。干预组在干预期间完成了 SimuSurg 的所有级别，而对照组则避免进行任何腹腔镜活动。研究前问卷用于收集年龄、性别、惯用手和游戏经验等数据。
干预组（n=14）在两次测试之间的总分显著提高（MC=182.00，P=0.009），而对照组（n=14）则没有显著提高（MC=161.50，P=0.08）。干预组非优势手的得分显著提高（MC=66.50，P=0.008），而对照组则没有提高（MC=9.00，P=0.98）。干预组和对照组的优势手得分均无提高（干预组 MC=62.00，P=0.08；对照组 MC=26.00，P=0.32）。手术兴趣（β=-234.30，P=0.02）与基线总分呈正相关；然而，年龄、性别和视频游戏经验则没有。
结果表明，智能手机应用程序可以提高医学生的腹腔镜技能，尤其是非优势手的技能。对于无手术经验的学生和临床医生来说，这些模拟器可能是一种具有成本效益且易于获得的腹腔镜培训辅助手段。
