Development and Implementation of a Robotic Surgery Training Curriculum

Abstract

<h3>Study Objective</h3> To evaluate efficacy of instituting a formal robotic surgery curriculum as part of residency training. <h3>Design</h3> Resident survey prior to and after implementing a new robotic surgery training curriculum. <h3>Setting</h3> Obstetrics and gynecology resident simulation at robotic simulation center located in the medical school of a large, urban, academic medical center. <h3>Patients or Participants</h3> 17 PGY1 through PGY4 residents who are currently training at Temple University Hospital obstetrics & gynecology program. <h3>Interventions</h3> We created a robotic surgery curriculum that includes online robotic training followed by hands-on robotic bedside assistant training. Residents were trained on proper instrument terminology, handling, robotic docking and bedside assisting. <h3>Measurements and Main Results</h3> Each resident was given a pre-intervention survey that included training level, number of times assisted in a robotic surgery, subjective comfort level with assisting in robotic surgery, and 12 objective questions regarding assisting in robotic surgery. Pre-intervention responses were compared to post-intervention responses. Number of mean correct objective questions pre-intervention was 5.3 independent of training year or experience with bedside assisting and mean correct objective questions post-intervention was 10 (p <0.0001). Median comfort level with bedside assisting pre-intervention was somewhat uncomfortable and post-intervention was neutral (p = 0.16). When asked if residents would like to have another structured robotic training exercise, 16 residents (94%) agreed or strongly agreed and one resident (6%) was neutral. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Resident knowledge of bedside assisting during robotic surgery increased as a result of the new robotic surgery training curriculum. Median comfort level with bedside assisting increased, however results were non-significant. Residents expressed interest in further robotic surgery training during residency, leaving comments such as "This was great! I feel like I learned a lot and will feel less clueless in the future. Please do again" and "Wish we could have had this earlier in residency" and "This was useful- made me more comfortable to assist in the OR."