Impact of Augmented Reality in Polypectomy Skills Acquisition in Simulation-based Endoscopy Training

Summary

Simulation-based training (SBT) is a safe and effective strategy for improving skills development in gastrointestinal endoscopy. The use of curricula based on progressive learning, as well as comprehensive structured curricula, have been demonstrated to be effective in enhancing simulation-based training. With current advancements in technologies, another possible enhancement to SBT is the use of augmented reality (AR). To date, no other studies have examined the benefits of AR technology in endoscopy training. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of a simulation-based AR curriculum in developing technical skills, self-assessment accuracy, and clinical performance; as compared to a conventional simulation curriculum.

Thirty six novice endoscopists will be recruited from the gastroenterology and general surgery programs at the University of Toronto. Participants will be randomized and assigned to two groups. The Conventional Simulation Training Curriculum group will receive 6 hours of simulated training, with expert feedback, and four 1-hour didactic teaching sessions. The AR Training Curriculum group will receive the same number of training hours and didactic sessions as the control group. The main difference is the use of superimposed videos to guide the intervention group through simulated polypectomy cases. During the didactic teaching sessions, the intervention group will also receive a brief introduction to principles of AR and its uses for endoscopy simulation. Participants will be trained to perform colonoscopies on two validated simulator models: (1) a bench-top colonoscopy simulator; and (2) the EndoVR® virtual reality simulator. Performance will be assessed before training (pre-test), immediately after training (acquisition post-test) and 4-6 weeks after training (retention test). On the same day as the retention test, the participants will perform two live colonoscopies and use a mechanical polypectomy simulation test (transfer tests), assessed by two blinded expert endoscopists.

The main hypothesis of this study is that novices trained under the AR-enhanced curriculum will have better technical skill performance during simulated polypectomies and live colonoscopies.

Conditions

• Colonic Polyp

Interventions

OTHER

Augmented reality-based curriculum

Participants in the Augmented Reality Group will be taught principles in augmented reality and training sessions will be enhanced by an augmented reality platform. This involves training on virtual reality simulators with superimposed videos and guides demonstrating correct procedure. In this study, the videos and guides will be on identifying and removing polyps.

OTHER

Conventional Simulation Curriculum

Participants in this group will will train from low- to high-fidelity colonoscopy simulation. During training, the participants will receive guidance and feedback from expert endoscopists. In addition, there will be didactic sessions covering theory of colonoscopy.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Unity Health Toronto

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Samir Grover, MD, MEd, FRCPC · Unity Health Toronto

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

OTHER

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2019-06-17

Primary Completion

2023-08-31

Completion

2023-08-31

Countries

• Canada

Study Locations