Theme
Simulation
INSTITUTION
HTWK Leipzig - University of Applied Sciences, Innovative Surgical Training Technologies (ISTT)
The study was integrated into an interdisciplinary research project to develop a new haptic high-fidelity simulation system for spine surgery.
The substantial demands for a change in surgical training in Germany, and the high rating and support of the innovation idea by medical experts and trainees were the driving forces behind it. A central hypothesis was that surgical training can be improved by standardization of surgical action, and thus the creation of effective training modules.
An interdisciplinary research on surgical training is required to improve educational competence for surgical trainers.
The interdisciplinary research project was funded by the Federal Ministry for Research and Education (BMBF) as part of the "Unternehmen Region" Initiative, the Leipziger Stiftung (Foundation Professorship "Simulation and Ergonomics") and the European Social Fonds (Testing Training Concepts for Operative Medicine).
A Cognitive Task Analysis (CTA) was conducted in a multicentre study by a team of social scientists. 36 observations in the OR as well as 17 partially standardized interviews were analyzed. Consultants and residents were asked to validate the observed surgical workflows and the first draft of a scenario based training. Based on these data the training concept was developed.
CTA showed that effective simulation training should not only place value on technical skills, but also on non-technical competences, e.g. understanding for the complex anatomy, diagnostic skills, perioperative decision-making and communication with the patient.
Accompanying feedback techniques were seen as essential by all participants. In 2012 a pilot training with 4 consultants as trainees, 1 surgical expert as master presenter and 2 advanced consultants as trainers was conducted. All participating surgeons rated the training in all defined categories as very good.
The combination of simulator trainings with a training concept is necessary.