Augmenting Surgery: Medical Students’ Assessment and Ergonomics of 3D Holograms vs. CT Scans for Pre-Operative Planning

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Mixed reality (MR) allows surgeons to pre-operatively assess patients' anatomy (e.g., tissue to be removed). However, medical students have limited access to this technology, and express both the desire to try it and suspicious attitudes. OBJECTIVES: To assess students' experience with traditional vs. innovative technology for pre-operative planning. METHODS: 11 medical students analyzed a lung cancer case using CT scans or a 3D hologram (MR) and assessed the technology in terms of mental workload, emotions and formative value. RESULTS: MR resulted in less cognitive load and effort, shorter response time and more positive emotions. No differences emerged in formative value, but the students expressed the desire to be trained both in traditional and innovative technology for pre-operative planning. CONCLUSION: Medical students respond positively to "hands-on" experiences of technology for pre-operative planning. The time may be ripe to include MR in medical formation.

How, for Whom, and in Which Contexts or Conditions Augmented and Virtual Reality Training Works in Upskilling Health Care Workers: Realist Synthesis

“…Of the 46 empirical studies included in the second stage of the review, almost half (22/46, 48%) were quantitative descriptive studies [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 22 , 41 , 56 - 72 ], 11 (24%) were randomized controlled trials [ 6 , 7 , 17 , 20 , 23 , 73 - 78 ], 7 (15%) were quantitative nonrandomized studies [ 16 , 24 , 79 - 83 ], 5 (11%) were mixed methods studies [ 84 - 88 ], and 1 (2%) was a qualitative study [ 89 ]. They were published between 1999 [ 80 ] and 2021 [ 59 , 60 , 83 ].…”

“…Of the 46 empirical studies included in the second stage of the review, almost half (22/46, 48%) were quantitative descriptive studies [ 8 , 9 , 14 , 22 , 41 , 56 - 72 ], 11 (24%) were randomized controlled trials [ 6 , 7 , 17 , 20 , 23 , 73 - 78 ], 7 (15%) were quantitative nonrandomized studies [ 16 , 24 , 79 - 83 ], 5 (11%) were mixed methods studies [ 84 - 88 ], and 1 (2%) was a qualitative study [ 89 ]. They were published between 1999 [ 80 ] and 2021 [ 59 , 60 , 83 ]. Of the 46 studies, 21 (46%) were conducted in the United States [ 7 , 14 , 17 , 20 , 22 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 63 - 66 , 72 , 73 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 80 - 82 , 88 ], 4 (9%) in the United Kingdom [ 68 , 84 - 86 ], 3 (7%) each in China [ 24 , 67 , 70 ] and India [ 23 , 76 , 89 ], and 2 (4%) each in Germany [ 59 , 87 ], Taiwan [ 6 , 71 ], Italy [ 69 , 83 ], and France [ 57 , 79 ].…”

“…They were published between 1999 [ 80 ] and 2021 [ 59 , 60 , 83 ]. Of the 46 studies, 21 (46%) were conducted in the United States [ 7 , 14 , 17 , 20 , 22 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 63 - 66 , 72 , 73 , 75 , 77 , 78 , 80 - 82 , 88 ], 4 (9%) in the United Kingdom [ 68 , 84 - 86 ], 3 (7%) each in China [ 24 , 67 , 70 ] and India [ 23 , 76 , 89 ], and 2 (4%) each in Germany [ 59 , 87 ], Taiwan [ 6 , 71 ], Italy [ 69 , 83 ], and France [ 57 , 79 ]. Of the 46 studies, 2 (4%) did not provide a location [ 8 , 62 ] and 1 (2%) study was conducted in each of the following countries: Spain [ 16 ], Canada [ 74 ], Malaysia [ 60 ], the Netherlands [ 9 ], and Australia [ 41 ].…”

“…Of the 46 studies, 22 (48%) used nonimmersive VR simulators, of which computer-based programs and the LapSim, AnthroSim, and MIST-VR simulators were the most commonly used [ 6 , 8 , 9 , 14 , 41 , 56 , 58 - 61 , 64 , 65 , 70 , 73 , 75 , 78 , 80 , 81 , 85 - 88 ]; 12 (26%) used fully immersive VR, with the most common headsets used being the Oculus Rift and HTC Vive [ 16 , 17 , 20 , 23 , 57 , 62 , 69 , 71 , 74 , 76 , 77 , 79 ]; and 2 (4%) used the stereographic CrystalEyes shutter glasses, which enabled 3D visualization when connected to an immersive workbench, for partially immersive VR [ 68 , 84 ]. Of the 46 studies, 6 (13%) used AR, with the Microsoft HoloLens glasses being the most commonly used device [ 7 , 22 , 66 , 82 , 83 , 89 ]. Other devices included smartphone apps, the ODG R-7 Smartglasses, and the Brother AiRScouter WD-200B headset.…”

“…Overall, of the 46 studies, 13 (28%) were of high quality and 3 (7%) were of low quality, whereas the remaining 30 (65%) were of moderate quality. Of the 46 studies, 9 (20%) quantitative descriptive [ 8 , 56 , 58 , 61 , 63 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 70 ] and 4 (9%) quantitative nonrandomized studies did not include participants who were representative of the target population [ 24 , 80 , 82 , 83 ]; in addition, 9 (20%) quantitative descriptive studies did not clearly state their sampling strategy [ 41 , 56 - 58 , 60 , 62 , 66 - 68 ]; in 5 (11%) randomized controlled trials, randomization was not conducted properly [ 6 , 23 , 75 - 77 ]; in 6 (13%), blinding was either not possible or not conducted [ 6 , 7 , 17 , 20 , 23 , 76 ]; the qualitative approach was not reported for 2 (4%) mixed methods studies [ 84 , 85 ]; and the only qualitative study did not meet any of the criteria [ 89 ].…”