Novice vs. Expert Surgeons during Robotic Surgery

A 2015 study assessed the cognitive engagement, mental workload, and mental state between novice and expert surgeons during robotic surgery.

Surgeons were divided into three groups based on the Dreyfus model :

1.  Beginners

2.  Competent and proficients

3.  Experts

The surgeons performed basic skills such as ring peg transfer and ball placement, intermediate skills such as suturing and knot tying, and advanced skills such as urethra-vesical anastomosis.

The subjects were analyzed using tool-based metrics as well as cognitive-based metrics:

• Time to completion

• Times the camera moved

• Errors such as instrument collision

• Number of times the ball was dropped

Significant differences were found between the beginners and experts when performing basic and intermediate skills, as well as a number of instrument collisions.

Competent, proficient surgeons and expert surgeons differed in terms of cognitive metrics, but not tool-based metrics.