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Construct and concurrent validity of a Nintendo Wii video game made for training basic laparoscopic skills

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Abstract

Background

Virtual reality (VR) laparoscopic simulators have been around for more than 10 years and have proven to be cost- and time-effective in laparoscopic skills training. However, most simulators are, in our experience, considered less interesting by residents and are often poorly accessible. Consequently, these devices are rarely used in actual training. In an effort to make a low-cost and more attractive simulator, a custom-made Nintendo Wii game was developed. This game could ultimately be used to train the same basic skills as VR laparoscopic simulators ought to. Before such a video game can be implemented into a surgical training program, it has to be validated according to international standards.

Methods

The main goal of this study was to test construct and concurrent validity of the controls of a prototype of the game. In this study, the basic laparoscopic skills of experts (surgeons, urologists, and gynecologists, n = 15) were compared to those of complete novices (internists, n = 15) using the Wii Laparoscopy (construct validity). Scores were also compared to the Fundamentals of Laparoscopy (FLS) Peg Transfer test, an already established assessment method for measuring basic laparoscopic skills (concurrent validity).

Results

Results showed that experts were 111 % faster (P = 0.001) on the Wii Laparoscopy task than novices. Also, scores of the FLS Peg Transfer test and the Wii Laparoscopy showed a significant, high correlation (r = 0.812, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The prototype setup of the Wii Laparoscopy possesses solid construct and concurrent validity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank H. Groen, Department of Epidemiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, for checking our statistical analyses.

Disclosures

M. B. Jalink, J. Goris, E. Heineman J. P. E. N. Pierie, and H. O. ten Cate Hoedemaker have no conflicts of interest or financial ties to disclose. The authors were given a prototype version of the Wii Laparoscopy video game from its developer, Cutting Edge B.V., to use in this research. No additional Grants were received to fund this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, De Brug, room 5.062, P.O. Box 30 001, 9700 RB, Groningen, The Netherlands

    M. B. Jalink

  2. Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    E. Heineman & H. O. ten Cate Hoedemaker

  3. Wenckebach Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. Goris & H. O. ten Cate Hoedemaker

  4. Postgraduate School of Medicine, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands

    J. P. E. N. Pierie

  5. Department of Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    J. P. E. N. Pierie

  6. Leeuwarden Institute for Minimally Invasive Surgery, Medical Center Leeuwarden, Leeuwarden, The Netherlands

    J. P. E. N. Pierie

Authors
  1. M. B. Jalink
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  2. J. Goris
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  4. J. P. E. N. Pierie
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  5. H. O. ten Cate Hoedemaker
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to M. B. Jalink.

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Jalink, M.B., Goris, J., Heineman, E. et al. Construct and concurrent validity of a Nintendo Wii video game made for training basic laparoscopic skills. Surg Endosc 28, 537–542 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-013-3199-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-013-3199-6

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