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Research: STEFANIDIS and COLLEAGUES,
Listed in Issue 275
Abstract
STEFANIDIS and COLLEAGUES, 1. Department of Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Carolinas Simulation Center, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, United States. Electronic address: dimstefa@iu.edu; 2. Department of Surgery, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, United States; Carolinas Simulation Center, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, United States; 3. Association of American Medical Colleges, Washington, DC, United States.
Get A Strong Mind, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States; 5. Carolinas Simulation Center, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, NC, United States conducted a randomized controlled trial to assess effectiveness of a comprehensive mental skills curriculum in enhancing surgical performance.
Background
The authors hypothesized that the implementation of a novel mental skills curriculum (MSC) during laparoscopic simulator training would improve mental skills and performance, and decrease stress.
Methodology
Sixty volunteer novices were randomized into intervention and control groups. All participants received Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery (FLS) training while the intervention group also participated in the MSC. Skill transfer and retention were assessed on a live porcine model after training and 2 months later, respectively. Performance was assessed using the Test of Performance Strategies-2 (TOPS-2) for mental skills, FLS metrics for laparoscopic performance, and the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-6) and heart rate (HR) for stress.
Results
Fifty-five participants (92%) completed training and the transfer test, and 46 (77%) the retention test. There were no significant differences between groups at baseline. Compared to controls the intervention group significantly improved their mental skill use, demonstrated higher laparoscopic skill improvement during retention, and reported less stress during the transfer test.
Conclusion
The MSC implemented in this study effectively enhanced participants' mental skill use, reduced cognitive stress in the operating room with a small impact on laparoscopic performance. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
References
Stefanidis D1, Anton NE2, Howley LD3, Bean E4, Yurco A5, Pimentel ME5, Davis CK5. Effectiveness of a comprehensive mental skills curriculum in enhancing surgical performance: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Am J Surg.;213(2):318-324. Feb 2017. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2016.10.016. Epub Nov 22 2016.
