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. 2016 Dec;30(12):5529-5536.
doi: 10.1007/s00464-016-4917-7. Epub 2016 Apr 29.

Face and content validation of a Virtual Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery Trainer (VTEST™)

Denis Dorozhkin  1 , Arun Nemani  1 , Kurt Roberts  2 , Woojin Ahn  1 , Tansel Halic  3 , Saurabh Dargar  1 , Jinling Wang  4 , Caroline G L Cao  4 , Ganesh Sankaranarayanan  1 , Suvranu De  5
Affiliations

Face and content validation of a Virtual Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery Trainer (VTEST™)

Denis Dorozhkin et al. Surg Endosc. 2016 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Natural orifice translumenal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) is an emerging surgical paradigm, where peritoneal access is achieved through one of the natural orifices of the body. It is being reported as a safe and feasible surgical technique with significantly reduced external scarring. Virtual Translumenal Endoscopic Surgical Trainer (VTEST™) is the first virtual reality simulator for the NOTES. The VTEST™ simulator was developed to train surgeons in the hybrid transvaginal NOTES cholecystectomy procedure. The initial version of the VTEST™ simulator underwent face validation at the 2013 Natural Orifice Surgery Consortium for Assessment and Research (NOSCAR) summit. Several areas of improvement were identified as a result, and the corresponding modifications were implemented in the simulator. This manuscript outlines the results of the subsequent evaluation study, performed in order to assess the face and content validity of the latest VTEST™ simulator.

Methods: Twelve subjects participated in an institutional review board-approved study that took place at the 2014 NOSCAR summit. Six of the 12 subjects, who are experts with NOTES experience, were used for face and content validation. The subjects performed the hybrid transvaginal NOTES cholecystectomy procedure on VTEST™ that included identifying the Calot's triangle, clipping and cutting the cystic duct/artery, and detaching the gallbladder. The subjects then answered five-point Likert scale feedback questionnaires for face and content validity.

Results: Overall, subjects rated 12/15 questions as 3.0 or greater (60 %), for face validity questions regarding the realism of the anatomical features, interface, and the tasks. Subjects also highly rated the usefulness of the simulator in learning the fundamental NOTES technical skills (3.50 ± 0.84). Content validity results indicate a high level of usefulness of the VTEST™ for training prior to operating room experience (4.17 ± 0.75).

Keywords: NOTES; Natural orifice surgery; Surgical performance metrics; Surgical training; Virtual surgical simulation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Kurt Roberts: NovaTract Surgical (ownership, intellectual property). Drs. Denis Dorozhkin, Arun Nemani, Woojin Ahn, Tansel Halic, Saurabh Dargar, Jinling Wang, Caroline Cao, Ganesh Sankaranarayanan, and Suvranu De have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
VTEST™ interface
Figure 1
Figure 1
VTEST™ interface
Figure 2
Figure 2
VTEST™ laparoscopic tools
Figure 3
Figure 3
Simulated peritoneal cavity in VTEST™
Figure 4
Figure 4
Simulated face validation results (mean Likert scores with standard deviations)
Figure 5
Figure 5
Content validation results (mean Likert scores with standard deviations)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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