Comparing the impact of surgical expert versus non-ophthalmologist instructors on virtual-reality surgical performance: A randomized controlled trial

PURPOSE: To compare Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) microsurgical performance in course participants who received virtual reality simulation-based training by either a surgical expert or a non-ophthalmologist instructor.

SETTING: Copenhagen Academy for Medical Education and Simulation, Copenhagen, Denmark.

DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

METHODS: Residents and specialists in ophthalmology with no prior MSICS experience were included to receive virtual reality simulation training in MSICS using the HelpMeSee simulator. The participants were randomly allocated to receive training from either an experienced MSICS surgeon or a non-ophthalmologist, also known as near-peer teaching. The performances of the participants were evaluated at baseline and post-training using a MSICS proficiency-based test with evidence of validity.

RESULTS: Thirty participants were included in the study and 29 completed the course. There was no significant difference in final test score between the two groups (p = 0.13). The performance score of both groups of participants increased significantly after receiving the training (p < 0.001). All participants passed the proficiency-based test after receiving the training.

CONCLUSION: We found no significant difference in surgical proficiency-level whether the participants were trained by a surgical expert or a non-ophthalmologist instructor for MSICS in a virtual-reality based setting. The findings of this study suggest that near-peer teaching within microsurgical performance potentially could be applied with teaching outcomes comparable to a surgical expert-instructor.