Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Controlled Clinical Trial
. 2015 Aug;93(5):416-421.
doi: 10.1111/aos.12691. Epub 2015 Feb 26.

Simulation-based certification for cataract surgery

Ann Sofia Skou Thomsen  1   2 , Jens Folke Kiilgaard  1 , Hadi Kjaerbo  1 , Morten la Cour  1 , Lars Konge  2
Affiliations
Free article
Controlled Clinical Trial

Simulation-based certification for cataract surgery

Ann Sofia Skou Thomsen et al. Acta Ophthalmol. 2015 Aug.
Free article

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the EyeSi(™) simulator in regard to assessing competence in cataract surgery. The primary objective was to explore all simulator metrics to establish a proficiency-based test with solid evidence. The secondary objective was to evaluate whether the skill assessment was specific to cataract surgery.

Methods: We included 26 ophthalmic trainees (no cataract surgery experience), 11 experienced cataract surgeons (>4000 cataract procedures) and five vitreoretinal surgeons. All subjects completed 13 different modules twice. Simulator metrics were used for the assessments.

Results: Total module score on seven of 13 modules showed significant discriminative ability between the novices and experienced cataract surgeons. The intermodule reliability coefficient was 0.76 (p < 0.001). A pass/fail level was defined from the total score on these seven modules using the contrasting-groups method. The test had an overall ability to discriminate between novices and experienced cataract surgeons, as 21 of 26 novices (81%) versus one of 11 experienced surgeons (9%) did not pass the test. The vitreoretinal surgeons scored significantly higher than the novices (p = 0.006), but not significantly lower than the experienced cataract surgeons (p = 0.32).

Conclusion: We have established a performance test, consisting of seven modules on the EyeSi(™) simulator, which possess evidence of validity. The test is a useful and reliable tool for assessment of both cataract surgical and general microsurgical skills in vitro.

Keywords: assessment; cataract surgery; proficiency-based training; standard setting; virtual reality simulation.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Ackerman PL, Beier ME (2006): Methods for Studying the Structure of Expertise: Psychometric Approaches. In: Ericsson KA, Charness N, Hoffman RR, Feltovich PJ (eds.) The Cambridge Handbook of Expertise and Expert Performance. New York: Cambridge University Press 147-166.
    1. American Educational Research Association (1999): Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington DC: American Educational Research Association.
    1. Belyea DA, Brown SE & Rajjoub LZ (2011): Influence of surgery simulator training on ophthalmology resident phacoemulsification performance. J Cataract Refract Surg 37: 1756-1761.
    1. Bergqvist J, Person A, Vestergaard A & Grauslund J (2014): Establishment of a validated training programme on the Eyesi cataract simulator. A prospective randomized study. Acta Ophthalmol 92: 629-634.
    1. Bloch R & Norman G (2012): Generalizability theory for the perplexed: a practical introduction and guide: AMEE Guide No. 68. Med Teach 34: 960-992.

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources