The development of laparoscopic skills using virtual reality simulations: A systematic review.

João Victor Taba,Vitoria Carneiro De Mattos,Leonardo Zumerkorn Pipek,Milena Oliveira Suzuki,Leandro Ryuchi Iuamoto,Eugênia Carneiro D’Albuquerque,Walter Augusto Moraes,Alberto Meyer,Luiz Augusto Carneiro-D’Albuquerque,Fernanda Sayuri Do Nascimento,Wellington Andraus,Vitor Santos Cortez,Wu Tu Hsing,Mohammed Saqr

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0252609

Abstract

Teaching based on virtual reality simulators in medicine has expanded in recent years due to the limitations of more traditional methods, especially for surgical procedures such as laparoscopy. To analyze the effects of using virtual reality simulations on the development of laparoscopic skills in medical students and physicians. The literature screening was done in April 2020 through Medline (PubMed), EMBASE and Database of the National Institute of Health. Randomized clinical trials that subjected medical students and physicians to training in laparoscopic skills in virtual reality simulators. Paired reviewers independently identified 1529 articles and included 7 trials that met the eligibility criteria. In all studies, participants that trained in virtual simulators showed improvements in laparoscopic skills, although the articles that also had a physical model training group did not show better performance of one model compared to the other. No article beyond 2015 met the eligibility criteria, and the analyzed simulators have different versions and models, which might impact the results. Virtual reality simulators are useful educational tools, but do not show proven significant advantages over traditional models. The lack of standardization and a scarcity of articles makes comparative analysis between simulators difficult, requiring more research in the area, according to the model suggested in this review. Registered by the Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO), identification code CRD42020176479.

Highlights

In 1950 the time it took for medical knowledge to double was estimated to be 50 years, whilst in 2020 that time would be 73 days [1]
For trainees who are proficient in basic laparoscopic skills, the efficacy of the virtual reality simulators (VRS) training model remains to be proven
LapSim can be used to teach skills that are transferable to real laparoscopic tasks, but it appears that there are no advantages to using virtual reality (VR) over BT and vice versa

Summary

Introduction

In 1950 the time it took for medical knowledge to double was estimated to be 50 years, whilst in 2020 that time would be 73 days [1]. To keep up with this growth and adapt to the challenges that healthcare presents, new technologies involving both the social role of the profession and changes in the healthcare environment are considered promising complementary tools [2] They can be used both to treat diseases and promote health (e.g. smokers [3] and the chronically ill [4]), as well as to help professionals with their practice and training (e.g. recognition of sepsis [5] and trauma screening [6]). To analyze the effects of using virtual reality simulations on the development of laparoscopic skills in medical students and physicians. Randomized clinical trials that subjected medical students and physicians to training in laparoscopic skills in virtual reality simulators. Paired reviewers independently identified 1529 articles and included 7 trials that met the eligibility criteria

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion