Towards technology-supported surgical training

Technology offers alternatives for training surgeons with patients and also possibilities to take part in surgical learning from afar, outside the operating room (OR). Simulated and other technical training tools provide opportunities to practice surgical skills in undisturbed learning environments. In order to implement effective educational methods and create new environments for learning, we need to find out what skills a surgeon must learn and what are the elements affecting surgical performance. This paper describes a study designed to investigate surgical processes and presents an exploratory way of gathering data by combining video material with interviews. The suitability of triangulation as a method of data collection for the development of technology-supported surgical education is then evaluated and discussed. The triangulation method provides data which benefits technology-supported surgical education. Advantages include a more accurate and detailed knowledge obtained from surgeons' actions, surgical procedures and learning.