CLINICAL EDUCATION
Practice on a VR simulator improves technical performance of surgical novices in the OR
Published on
March 1, 2014
Annals of Surgery
Overview
This study aimed to assess whether individualized deliberate practice using a virtual reality (VR) simulator enhances surgical performance in the operating room (OR). Previous research has indicated that VR training improves technical skills, but this trial explored a tailored approach where the training tasks varied based on each trainee's proficiency. Sixteen novice surgical residents were randomly assigned to either a deliberate practice group or a conventional residency training group. After an initial assessment, the deliberate practice group received individualized training on the simulator, while both groups subsequently performed laparoscopic cholecystectomies in the OR.
Results
Results showed that while both groups had similar baseline skills, the deliberate practice group demonstrated significantly improved technical performance post-intervention, achieving a median score of 17.0 compared to the control group's 12.5. Most participants in the deliberate practice group successfully completed multiple basic and advanced tasks on the simulator. These findings suggest that individualized deliberate practice in a VR environment can effectively enhance surgical skills, potentially transforming residency training programs by incorporating simulation-based curricula into standard training rather than restricting them to research settings.
