Robotic-assisted surgery training (RAST) program: module 1 of a three-module program. Assessment of patient cart docking skills and educational environment.

There is currently no standardized robotic surgery training program in General Surgery Residency. RAST involves three modules: ergonomics, psychomotor, and procedural. This study aimed to report the results of module 1, which assessed the responsiveness of 27 PGY (postgraduate year) 1-5 general surgery residents (GSRs) to simulated patient cart docking, and to evaluate the residents' perception of the educational environment from 2021 to 2022. GSRs prepared with pre-training educational video and multiple-choice questions test (MCQs). Faculty provided one-on-one resident hands-on training and testing. Nine proficiency criteria (deploy cart; boom control; driving cart; docking camera port; targeting anatomy; flex joints; clearance joints; port nozzles; emergency undocking) were assessed with five-point Likert scale. A validated 50-item Dundee Ready Educational Environment Measure (DREEM) inventory was used by GSRs to assess the educational environment. Mean MCQ scores: (90.6 ± 16.1 PGY1), (80.2 ± 18.1PGY2), (91.7 ± 16.5 PGY3) and (PGY4, 86.8 ± 18.1 PGY5) (ANOVA test; p = 0.885). Hands-on docking time decreased at testing when compared to base line: median 17.5 (range 15-20) min vs. 9.5 (range 8-11). Mean hands-on testing score was 4.75 ± 0.29 PGY1; 5.0 ± 0 PGY2 and PGY3, 4.78 ± 0.13 PGY4, and 4.93 ± 0.1 PGY5 (ANOVA test; p = 0.095). No correlation was found between pre-course MCQ score and hands-on training score (Pearson correlation coefficient = - 0.359; p = 0.066). There was no difference in the hands-on scores stratified by PGY. The overall DREEM score was 167.1 ± 16.9 with CAC = 0.908 (excellent internal consistency). Patient cart training impacted the responsiveness of GSRs with 54% docking time reduction and no differences in hands-on testing scores among PGYs with a highly positive perception.