Serious gaming and virtual reality in the multimodal training of laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a randomized crossover study

Background The aim of this study was to assess the transferability of surgical skills for the laparoscopic hernia module between the serious game Touch Surgery (TM) (TS) and the virtual reality (VR) trainer Lap Mentor (TM). Furthermore, this study aimed to collect validity evidence and to discuss "sources of validity evidence" for the findings using the laparoscopic inguinal hernia module on TS. Methods In a randomized crossover study, medical students (n = 40) in their clinical years performed laparoscopic inguinal hernia modules on TS and the VR trainer. TS group started with "Laparoscopic Inguinal Hernia Module" on TS (phase 1: Preparation, phase 2: Port Placement and Hernia Repair), performed the module first in training, then in test mode until proficiency was reached. VR group started with "Inguinal Hernia Module" on the VR trainer (task 1: Anatomy Identification, task 2: Incision and Dissection) and also performed the module until proficiency. Once proficiency reached in the first modality, the groups performed the other training modality until reaching proficiency. Primary endpoint was the number of attempts needed to achieve proficiency for each group for each task/phase. Results Students starting with TS needed significantly less attempts to reach proficiency for task 1 on the VR trainer than students who started with the VR trainer (TS = 2.7 +/- 0.6 vs. VR = 3.2 +/- 0.7; p = 0.028). No significant differences for task 2 were observed between groups (TS = 2.3 +/- 1.1 vs. VR = 2.1 +/- 0.8; p = 0.524). For both phases on TS, no significant skill transfer from the VR trainer to TS was observed. Aspects of validity evidence for the module on TS were collected. Conclusion The results show that TS brought additional benefit to improve performances on the VR trainer for task 1 but not for task 2. Skill transfer from the VR trainer to TS could not be shown. VR and TS should thus be used in combination with TS first in multimodal training to ensure optimal training conditions.