Technology for Psychomotor Skills Testing in Endoscopic Surgery

Abstract

Psychomotor research is essential for aptitude-based selection of surgical trainees and sound surgical practice. Two microprocessor-controlled psychomotor testers were developed to evaluate psychomotor skills related to endoscopic surgery. Dundee Endoscopic Psychomotor Tester (DEPT) measures single-handed performance in an endoscopic environment and therefore it can be used to evaluate differing abilities between the right and left hand. Advanced Dundee endoscopic Psychomotor Tester (ADEPT) measures two-handed performance, and consequently it can be used to assess coordinated bimanual endoscopic manipulations. Psychomotor testers provide real-time objective scoring systems that have several aspects of face validity to real endoscopic environment. Studies on medical students have confirmed that objective evaluation of task performance in an endoscopic field is feasible and have documented differences in psychomotor abilities between subjects.