Eye gaze patterns differentiate novice and experts in a virtual laparoscopic surgery training environment

Abstract

Visual information is important in surgeons' manipulative performance especially in laparoscopic surgery where tactual feedback is less than in open surgery. The study of surgeons' eye movements is an innovative way of assessing skill, in that a comparison of the eye movement strategies between expert surgeons and novices may show important differences that could be used in training. We conducted a preliminary study comparing the eye movements of 5 experts and 5 novices performing a one-handed aiming task on a computer-based laparoscopic surgery simulator. The performance results showed that experts were quicker and generally committed fewer errors than novices. We investigated eye movements as a possible factor for experts performing better than novices. The results from eye gaze analysis showed that novices needed more visual feedback of the tool position to complete the task than did experts. In addition, the experts tended to maintain eye gaze on the target while manipulating the tool, whereas novices were more varied in their behaviours. For example, we found that on some trials, novices tracked the movement of the tool until it reached the target.

Integrating Google Glass into simulation-based training: experiences and future directions

“…Information such as this would be very helpful in places where simulation is being used to aid in resident and medical student remediation. Having the ability to analyze what the participant sees and focuses on can help with redirection and identification of knowledge translation issues [20][21][22][23] .…”

Gaze training improves the retention and transfer of laparoscopic technical skills in novices

“…Recent research has revealed differences in the gaze control strategies of experienced and novice laparoscopic surgeons [3,4]. Novices, who are still developing the sensory-motor mapping rules for laparoscopy, use visual feedback to check on the effect of their movements, and so exhibit a gaze strategy that switches between tracking their tool movements and fixating the target to be manipulated (a switching strategy) [3,5]. Experienced surgeons, who have developed the necessary sensory-motor mapping rules, primarily fixate the target without the need to check their tool locations (a target-locking strategy) [3,4].…”

Do Your Eyes Give It Away? Using Eye Tracking Data to Understand Students’ Attitudes towards Open Student Model Representations

“…Gaze tracking has been used previously to find comparisons between novices and experts; e.g. during Visual Flight Rules flight [6], during laparoscopic surgery [8], working within a Learning Management System [14], while playing chess [3], and within collaborative environments [9]. It has been found to be a good indicator of the "Yes!"…”