Visuospatial abilities correlate with performance of senior endoscopy specialist in simulated colonoscopy

Visuospatial abilities have been demonstrated to predict the performance of medical students in simulated endoscopy. However, little has been reported whether differences in visuospatial abilities influence the performance of senior endoscopists or whether their vast endoscopy experience reduces the importance of these abilities. Eleven senior endoscopists were included in our study. Before the simulated endoscopies in GI Mentor II (gastroscopy: case 3, module 1 and colonoscopy: case 3, module 1), the endoscopists performed three visuospatial tests: (1) pictorial surface orientation (PicSOr), (2) card rotation, and (3) cube comparison tests that monitor the ability of the tested person to re-create a three-dimensional image from a two-dimensional presentation as well as mentally manipulate that re-created image. The results of the visuospatial tests were correlated to the performance parameters of the virtual-reality endoscopy simulator. The percent of time spent with clear view in the simulated colonoscopy correlated well with the performance in the visuospatial PicSOr (r= -0.75, P = 0.01), card rotation (r = 0.75, P = 0.01), and cube comparison (r = 0.79, P = 0.004) tests. The endoscopists who performed better in the visuospatial tests also were better at maintaining visualization of the colon lumen. Those who performed better in the PicSOr test formed fewer loops during colonoscopy (r = 0.60, P = 0.05). In the technically less demanding simulated gastroscopy, there were no such correlations. The visuospatial tests performed better in endoscopists not playing computer games. Good visuospatial ability correlates significantly with the performance of experienced endoscopists in a technically demanding simulated colonoscopy, but not in the less demanding simulated gastroscopy.

[1]  T. Grantcharov,et al.  Learning curves and impact of psychomotor training on performance in simulated colonoscopy: a randomized trial using a virtual reality endoscopy trainer , 2004, Surgical Endoscopy And Other Interventional Techniques.

[2]  K Moorthy,et al.  Learning the skills of flexible sigmoidoscopy – the wider perspective , 2003, Medical education.

[3]  R. M. Satava,et al.  PicSOr: An objective test of perceptual skill that predicts laparoscopic technical skill in three initial studies of laparoscopopic performance , 2003, Surgical Endoscopy And Other Interventional Techniques.

[4]  Steven L Dawson,et al.  A critical approach to medical simulation. , 2002, Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons.

[5]  R. Satava,et al.  Virtual Reality Training Improves Operating Room Performance: Results of a Randomized, Double-Blinded Study , 2002, Annals of surgery.

[6]  L. Hedman,et al.  Visuospatial skills and computer game experience influence the performance of virtual endoscopy , 2004, Journal of Gastrointestinal Surgery.

[7]  Robert E Sedlack,et al.  Computer simulation training enhances patient comfort during endoscopy. , 2004, Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association.

[8]  L. Kohn,et al.  To Err Is Human : Building a Safer Health System , 2007 .

[9]  R. Schoefl,et al.  Evaluation of a virtual endoscopy simulator for training in gastrointestinal endoscopy. , 2002, Endoscopy.

[10]  T. Grantcharov,et al.  Randomized clinical trial of virtual reality simulation for laparoscopic skills training , 2004, The British journal of surgery.

[11]  R. Fanelli,et al.  Initial experience using an endoscopic simulator to train surgical residents in flexible endoscopy in a community medical center residency program. , 2005, Current surgery.

[12]  Anthony G. Gallagher,et al.  Objective psychomotor skills assessment of experienced and novice flexible endoscopists with a virtual reality simulator. , 2003 .

[13]  Robert E Sedlack,et al.  Computer Simulator Training Enhances the Competency of Gastroenterology Fellows at Colonoscopy: Results of a Pilot Study , 2004, American Journal of Gastroenterology.

[14]  R. Cowie.  Measurement and Modelling of Perceived Slant in Surfaces Represented by Freely Viewed Line Drawings , 1998, Perception.

[15]  M. Tuggy,et al.  Virtual Reality Flexible Sigmoidoscopy Simulator Training: Impact on Resident Performance , 1998, The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine.

[16]  Ruth B. Ekstrom,et al.  Manual for kit of factor-referenced cognitive tests , 1976 .

[17]  J Van Dam,et al.  A Prospective Randomized Trial Comparing a Virtual Reality Simulator to Bedside Teaching for Training in Sigmoidoscopy , 2003 .