[Validity studies in laparoscopic simulation. Methodology and design considerations.] / Validación en simulación laparoscópica. Consideraciones metodológicas y de diseño.

OBJECTIVES: To describe a roadmap of the most representative milestones and considerations in the validation of surgical simulators, especially those of laparoscopic surgery. And additionally, help determine when in this process a simulator can be considered as validated. METHODS: A non-systematic review was carried out searching terms like simulation, validation, training, assessment, skills and learning curve, as well as providing the experience accumulated by our center. RESULTS: An ideal classical validation process should consist of the following steps: fidelity, verification/calibration/ reliability, subjective and objective strategies. Baseline tests of fidelity and verification/calibration/ technological reliability are not always detailed in the simulation literature. A simulator can be considered validated if, at least, satisfactorily completed any of the two main objective strategies, that is, constructive and/or criterion validity. CONCLUSIONS: The methodologies to validate simulators as useful and reliable for the improvement of psychomotor/ technical skills are widely analyzed, although there is a variety of approaches depending on the scientific reference consulted, not being implemented equally in all works. This apparent arbitrariness should be considered in advance because it can lead the researcher to misunderstandings, especially when the simulator will be regarded as valid.

OBJETIVOS: Describir una hoja de ruta de los hitos y consideraciones más representativos en la validación de simuladores quirúrgicos, especialmente los de cirugía laparoscópica. Y adicionalmente contribuir a determinar en qué momento de este proceso puede considerarse un simulador como validado.MÉTODOS: Se realizó una revisión no sistemática con los términos simulación, validación, formación, entrenamiento, evaluación, habilidades y curva de aprendizaje, además de aportar la experiencia acumulada por nuestro centro. RESULTADOS: Un proceso ideal clásico de validación debería constar de los siguientes pasos: Fidelidad, Verificación/ Calibración/Fiabilidad, estrategias subjetivas y objetivas. Las pruebas de inicio tanto de Fidelidad como de Verificación/Calibración/Fiabilidad tecnológica no siempre están descritas de manera explícita en los trabajos de validación de simuladores. Un simulador puede considerarse validado si al menos ha completado satisfactoriamente una validación de cualquiera de los dos grandes bloques de tipo objetivo, es decir, constructiva y/o de criterio. CONCLUSIONES: Los métodos que permiten validar simuladores como útiles y fiables para la mejora de habilidades de tipo psicomotor/técnico están ampliamente documentados aunque existe cierta variedad de enfoques en función de la referencia científica que se consulte, no aplicándose por igual en todos los trabajos. Esta aparente arbitrariedad debería ser conocida de antemano porque puede llevar al investigador a ciertos equívocos, especialmente a la hora de afirmar cuándo el simulador se considera plenamente validado.

Validation of the three web quality dimensions of a minimally invasive surgery e-learning platform.

INTRODUCTION: E-learning web environments, including the new TELMA platform, are increasingly being used to provide cognitive training in minimally invasive surgery (MIS) to surgeons. A complete validation of this MIS e-learning platform has been performed to determine whether it complies with the three web quality dimensions: usability, content and functionality. METHODS: 21 Surgeons participated in the validation trials. They performed a set of tasks in the TELMA platform, where an e-MIS validity approach was followed. Subjective (questionnaires and checklists) and objective (web analytics) metrics were analysed to achieve the complete validation of usability, content and functionality. RESULTS: The TELMA platform allowed access to didactic content with easy and intuitive navigation. Surgeons performed all tasks with a close-to-ideal number of clicks and amount of time. They considered the design of the website to be consistent (95.24%), organised (90.48%) and attractive (85.71%). Moreover, they gave the content a high score (4.06 out of 5) and considered it adequate for teaching purposes. The surgeons scored the professional language and content (4.35), logo (4.24) and recommendations (4.20) the highest. Regarding functionality, the TELMA platform received an acceptance of 95.24% for navigation and 90.48% for interactivity. CONCLUSIONS: According to the study, it seems that TELMA had an attractive design, innovative content and interactive navigation, which are three key features of an e-learning platform. TELMA successfully met the three criteria necessary for consideration as a website of quality by achieving more than 70% of agreements regarding all usability, content and functionality items validated; this constitutes a preliminary requirement for an effective e-learning platform. However, the content completeness, authoring tool and registration process required improvement. Finally, the e-MIS validity methodology used to measure the three dimensions of web quality in this work can be applied to other clinical areas or training fields.

[New technologies in minimally invasive surgery training: what do surgeons demand?]. / Nuevas tecnologías en formación de cirugía de mínima invasión: ¿qué demandan los cirujanos?

BACKGROUND: Minimally invasive surgery might greatly benefit from the Information and Communications Technologies. The objective of this work is to determine the better approach to include those technologies, in particular an e-Learning platform, into an in-person training course. METHODS: An online survey was sent to all participants in any of the laparoscopic training courses at Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre. This survey included questions regarding new technologies used for training. Once all data were gathered, a descriptive analysis was performed. RESULTS: 382 questionnaires were sent of which 102 were correctly received back. This means a response rate equal to 30%. Current theoretical training means are watching surgical videos (85-83.3%) and assisting to in-person training courses (77-75.5%). Participants rated as useful the use of new technologies for training (4.1 ± 0.9) and they would mainly use it both before and after assisting to an in-person training course (80-78.4%). CONCLUSIONS: It is proposed a methodology that provides participants with didactic resources based on surgical videos, both before and after assisting to an in-person training course. Through the application of this methodology, an improvement and reduction of the time that surgeons expend in training is aimed.

Antecedentes: las tecnologías de la información y comunicación pueden aportar beneficios a la formación en cirugía de mínima invasión. Objetivo: determinar la manera más adecuada de incluir las tecnologías de la información y comunicación, en particular una plataforma de e-Learning, en un programa de formación presencial. Material y métodos: se realizó una encuesta en línea entre los asistentes al Centro de Cirugía de Mínima Invasión Jesús Usón, con preguntas relativas a las nuevas tecnologías aplicadas a la formación. Con los datos recopilados se efectuó un estudio descriptivo. Resultados: se enviaron 382 cuestionarios y se recibieron 102 (30%) correctamente respondidos. Los medios para formación teórica más empleados en la actualidad en la población estudiada son: visualización de videos quirúrgicos (85-83.3%) y la asistencia a cursos (77-75.5%). Los usuarios consideran útiles las nuevas tecnologías en formación (4.1 ± 0.9) y sobre todo usarían una plataforma de e-Learning personalizada antes y después de asistir a un curso de formación presencial (80-78.4%). Conclusiones: se propone una metodología de recursos didácticos basados en videos quirúrgicos antes y después que los alumnos asistan a un curso de formación presencial, para que mediante la aplicación de esta metodología se mejore y optimice el tiempo que los cirujanos dedican a su formación.