Can Virtual Reality Be Used to Track Skills Decay During the Research Years?

Background: Time away from surgical practice can lead to skills decay. Research residents are thought to be prone to skills decay, given their limited experience and reduced exposure to clinical activities during their research training years. This study takes a cross-sectional approach to assess differences in residents' skills at the beginning and end of their research years using virtual reality.

Screening surgical residents' laparoscopic skills using virtual reality tasks: Who needs more time in the sim lab?

Background: This study investigated the possibility of using virtual reality perceptual-motor tasks as a screening tool for laparoscopic ability. We hypothesized that perceptual-motor skills assessed using virtual reality will correlate with the quality of simulated laparoscopic ventral hernia repair.

Materials And Methods: Surgical residents (N = 37), performed 2 virtual reality perceptual-motor tasks: (1) force matching and (2) target tracking.

Can a virtual reality assessment of fine motor skill predict successful central line insertion?

Background: Due to the increased use of peripherally inserted central catheter lines, central lines are not performed as frequently. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a virtual reality (VR)-based assessment of fine motor skills can be used as a valid and objective assessment of central line skills.

Methods: Surgical residents (N = 43) from 7 general surgery programs performed a subclavian central line in a simulated setting.

Development and Analysis of Psychomotor Skills Metrics for Procedural Skills Decay.

In this paper we develop and analyze the metrics associated with a force production task involving a stationary target with the help of advanced VR and Force Dimension Omega 6 haptic device. We study the effects of force magnitude and direction on the various metrics namely path length, movement smoothness, velocity and acceleration patterns, reaction time and overall error in achieving the target. Data was collected from 47 participants who were residents.