Comparative effectiveness of telesimulation versus standard simulation for pediatric Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) essential skills training.

BACKGROUND: Proctored on site simulation-based surgical education has been integrated in our residents curricula since 2012. Due to COVID-19 pandemic and social distance protocols, we developed a Tele-assisted Essential Skills Training Module (T-ESTM). The aim of this study is to evaluate comparative effectiveness between Telesimulation (T) versus Standard Simulation (S) for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) essential skills training. METHODS: ESTM includes academic lectures, tutorials for ergonomics and 7 hands-on tasks scheduled into 2 sessions of 3 hours. Initial and final assessment scoring (adapted from GOALS) as well as timing for 3 of the tasks were registered. Telesimulation (T) group accessed the content online and completed their Hands-On practice through a digital communication platform. Standard Simulation (S) group attended conferences and Hands-On practice at the simulation center. Both groups were proctored by the same educators with summative and formative feedback and debriefing. Data was analyzed with the R-studio software program. RESULTS: Each group had 20 participants with a mean age of 28 ± 5 years. 67.5% were surgeons in training, 47.5% had performed low complexity procedures and 40% had previous experience with simulation training. We observed a significant improvement in scoring and time reduction for all assessed tasks in S and T groups (p < 0.001), with no statistically significant differences when comparing both groups. Similar performance could be achieved with both strategies. CONCLUSION: Telesimulation is a reproducible and effective educational tool for remote MIS essential skills training, and should be considered as an alternative to on-site simulation programs. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II. TYPE OF STUDY: Clinical Research.

Effectiveness of telesimulation for pediatric minimally invasive surgery essential skills training.

BACKGROUND: In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing rules, access to in-person training activities had temporarily been interrupted, speeding up the implementation of telesimulation for minimally invasive surgery (MIS) essential skills training (T-ESTM, Telesimulation - Essential Skills Training Module) in our center. The aim of this study was to explore the effectiveness of T-ESTM. METHODS: T-ESTM was scheduled into 2 sessions of 3 h through the Zoom® virtual meeting platform. The academic lectures, the tutorials for box-trainer set-up and 7 performance tasks were accessed through an online campus previous to the remote encounter for personalized guidance and debriefing. Initial (pre-telementoring) and final (post 6-hour telementoring) assessment scoring as well as timing for Task 2 (circle-cutting pattern), 3 (extracorporeal Roeder knot) and 5 (intracorporeal Square knot) were registered. RESULTS: 61 participants were recruited. The mean age was 31±5 years. 65% were surgical residents. 48% performed low complexity procedures. 52% had previous experience with simulation training. In Task 2, there was a 21% improvement in the final score obtained, as well as a significant decrease in time of 33%; in Task 3, there was an increase of 39% in the scoring and a decrease of 49% in the timing; and in Task 5, participants improved their technique a 30% and decreased the performance time a 47%. All the differences were statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Our data support T-ESTM as a reproducible and effective educational tool for remote MIS essential skills hands-on training. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: II.