Tunnel Construction Course Pilot Assessment of Simulation-based Training Effectiveness

HelpMeSee Inc.24 enrolled

Overview

TCC-PASTE is a randomised controlled trial comparing a simulation based training curriculum with standard training for ophthalmology residents learning to perform tunnel construction in manual small incision cataract surgery. After obtaining informed consent, participating trainees will be randomly assigned to learn to perform tunnel construction either through the simulation based curriculum or through the standard curriculum at their institute. Trainees assigned to simulation will learn through studying an eBook, participating in training sessions supported by repeated practice on a virtual reality simulator, and supervised training in live surgery to facilitate transfer of skill acquired in simulation to the operating room. To determine the effect of simulation based training, we will assess the number of errors trainees perform in the initial part of their intraoperative learning curve.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Cataract

Interventions

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Enrolled in a training program at a partner institute; * No or minimal prior experience with MSICS (trainees within the first 2-3 months of matriculation, or having performed fewer than 20 procedures as the main surgeon but no more than 5 MSICS procedures within 6 months preceding participation in TCC-PASTE); * Provide informed consent to participate in the study; * Able to participate in routine patient care activities, as required by the partner institute, without the need to take overnight call for the duration corresponding to the simulation training phase. Exclusion Criteria: * Performed scleral tunnel construction as the main surgeon in 20 or more procedures; * Prior experience with the HelpMeSee simulator or participation in the HelpMeSee simulation training curriculum. * Required to take overnight call for the duration corresponding to simulation training phase.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Total surgical errors

Incidence of pre-specified errors during tunnel construction through video-based assessment: uveal prolapse (UP), buttonhole incision (BI), premature entry (PE), Descemet's detachment (DD), laceration of upper wall (UL), laceration of lateral walls of tunnel (LL), corneal endothelial touch (ET), contact with iris, (IC) and contact with the lens (LC).

Time frame: 12 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Major surgical errors

Time frame: 12 weeks

Minor surgical errors

Incidence of pre-specified errors during tunnel construction through video-based assessment: corneal endothelial touch (ET), contact with iris, (IC) and contact with the lens (LC).

Time frame: 12 weeks

Surgical product/outcome assessment: scleral groove