Clinical Research Directory

SOAR: Surgery Objective Analysis and Review

The purpose of this pilot study is to determine the feasibility and usability of a surgical software training platform called the SOAR Webapp that will allow Johns Hopkins surgical trainees to receive rapid qualitative and quantitative feedback on both technical skills and surgical decision-making. The SOAR Webapp is a software device comprised of artificial intelligence (AI) computer vision algorithms embedded in a standalone mobile application. The software will be able to take laparoscopic videos as input and output the automated assessments for users. The investigators will also set up the clinical and logistical infrastructure needed to conduct a pilot study to evaluate the effectiveness of the SOAR computer vision system in facilitating video-based review of trainee performed operations with feedback from an expert attending surgeon. The investigators hypothesize that the video review features of the SOAR Webapp will be an effective training aid and has the potential to improve surgical education and training.

Effect of Mobile Video Games on Laparoscopic Simulation Skills in Medical Students

This study evaluated whether regular mobile video game play could improve laparoscopic simulation performance among medical students without prior surgical or simulation experience. Thirty first-, second-, and third-year medical students were randomly assigned to either a mobile gaming intervention group or a control group. All participants received standardized training using the Simbionix LAP Mentor™ laparoscopic simulator and completed baseline assessments of hand-eye coordination, suture placement, and bimanual maneuver tasks. During the subsequent three-week intervention period, participants in the intervention group played selected mobile games (DATA WING™ and Aim Lab Mobile™) for at least 30 minutes daily, while the control group was instructed not to play mobile games. After the intervention, all participants repeated the same laparoscopic simulation tasks. The primary objective was to determine whether mobile gaming improved laparoscopic performance, as measured by task completion time and performance accuracy. The findings of this study may help clarify whether inexpensive and widely accessible mobile games can serve as an adjunct to simulation-based surgical education for novice medical students.