A Study on the Effectiveness of Gaze Point Analysis in Surgical Technique Training for Surgical Specialists

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K09260
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 55030:Cardiovascular surgery-related
• Research Institution: Hirosaki University
• Principal Investigator: Minakawa Masahito 弘前大学, 医学研究科, 教授 (50374830)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 注視視点解析 / 外科専門医教育 / 手術手技トレーニング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study aims to establish and evaluate a new educational method to improve surgical techniques in the training of surgical specialists. By quantitatively visualizing gaze points during suturing, the study analyzes the differences in vascular anastomosis performed by instructors and resident surgeons. Subjects, including instructors, mid-level surgeons, and junior surgeons, performed anastomosis on artificial grafts while wearing eye trackers to analyze their gaze points. The results showed that, as years of training increased, there was a stronger tendency to switch needles within the field of view of the anastomosis site, and the proportion of time spent gazing at the anastomosis site was higher. The time spent switching needles and the rate of correction of insertion points also decreased with more years of training. This study provided valuable information and instructional methods for educating surgical techniques.

Free Research Field

心臓血管外科

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

外科手術手技における運針や縫合の技術習得において、従来は主観的評価によって指導してきた過程を、本研究によって定量的かつ客観的に測定する手法を開発することができた点において学術的意義がある。個々の専攻医の手術手技の問題点や習熟度ならびに達成度を可視化できることから、有効的な技術習得が可能となり、外科医不足の現状において教育期間の短縮を期待できる点において社会的意義がある。また、自己研鑽としての技術習得時間の短縮にも貢献できる点において、外科医の働き方の改善に寄与する。