Objective assessment of surgeon's psychomotor skill using virtual reality module

• Main Authors: Ahmmad, S. N. Z., Su, E. L. M., Yeong, C. F., Sood, S., Gandhi, A., Mohamed, N. S., Abdul Rahman, H., Burdet, E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Institute of Advanced Engineering and Science 2019
• Subjects: TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
• Online Access: http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/92623/1/SitiNorZawani2019_ObjectiveAssessmentofSurgeonsPsychomotor.pdf; http://eprints.utm.my/id/eprint/92623/; http://dx.doi.org/10.11591/ijeecs.v14.i3.pp1533-1543
• Institution: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

This study aims to identify measurable parameters that could be used as objective assessment parameters to evaluate surgical dexterity using computer-based assessment module. A virtual reality module was developed to measure dynamic and static hand movements in a bimanual experimental setting. The experiment was conducted with sixteen subjects divided into two groups: surgeons (N = 5) and non-surgeons (N = 11). Results showed that surgeons outperformed the non-surgeons in motion path accuracy, motion path precision, economy of movement, motion smoothness, end-point accuracy and end-point precision. The six objective parameters can complement existing assessment methods to better quantify a trainee‟s performance. These parameters also could provide information of hand movements that cannot be measured with the human eye. An assessment strategy using appropriate parameters could help trainees learn on computer-based systems, identify their mistakes and improve their skill towards the competency, without relying too much on bench models and cadavers.