Transcript Flying Aptitude Test for the Selection of Surgical Trainees

Flying Aptitude Test
for the Selection of
Surgical Trainees
Principal Investigator: Mrs Hyun-Mi Carty Teaching Fellow
Chief Investigator: Mr Charles Maxwell-Armstrong Consultant Surgeon
Queens Medical Centre Nottingham
Introduction
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Surgical Aptitude
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Technical Skills
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Aptitude Testing in military pilots
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Flying Aptitude Test for the
selection of surgical trainees
Surgeon’s Attributes
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A Gallagher, G Leonard & O. Traynor (RCSI)
• Technical skills
• Fundamental abilities
 Psychomotor skills
 Visuospatial ability
 Depth perception

Cuschieri (Am J Surg)
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Spatial perception
Hand-eye coordination
Aiming
Multilimb coordination
Hand-arm steadiness
Interpret and manipulate from images
Laparoscopic
Simulator
performance:
Harrier pilots vs
Medical Students
Harrier pilots n=8
Med Students n=25
4 laparoscopic box
trainer tasks
Appendicectomy task
Med students 95.5 s
Harrier pilots 28.7 s
Evolution of the RAF Aptitude Testing

Before WWII
‘right type’
UK Tri-service aircrew selection
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Part 1
• Aptitude testing
• Medical
• Generic fitness test
• Interview

Part 2
• Practical situational exercises
Aptitude Domains
Verbal Reasoning (VR)
 Numerical Reasoning (NR)
 Spatial Reasoning (SR)
 Attentional Capability (AC)
 Work Rate (WR)
 Psychomotor Coordination (PC)

Test development
1) Job/task analysis
2) Test battery design
3) Validation
Job / task analysis
1) Identification of training elements &
competences required for success
2) Development of aptitude profiles
3) Assistance from Subject Matter Experts
(experienced flying instructors)
Validation

Correlation between test results and
training data:
• Ground School
• Overall Grading
• Practical
Our Study
Flying aptitude Test for the Selection of
Surgical Trainees

MoD Ethical Ref: 1002/299

NHS Ethics Ref: 10/H0401/43
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NUH R&D Ref: 10GS002
Hypothesis
1.
RAF Aircrew Selection test (AST):
Identify participants with good
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2.
3.
Spatial, Verbal & Numerical Reasoning, Attentional
Capability, Work Rate & Psychomotor Ability.
AST result = LAP & ENDO & VR SIM
SIM Test results = Intra-operative
Procedure Based Assessments (PBA)
done as part of ongoing training.
Method
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Participants take part in the following tests:
1.
RAF Aircrew Selection Test at RAF Cranwell
2.
3.
4.
Simulated laparoscopic and endoscopic tests at
the Trent simulation Centre, QMC
Psychometric questionnaires
Optional participation into prospective study
analysing Procedure Based Assessments results
Participant numbers

Total N= 450
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Medical students (n=200)
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Surgical and Medical Core Training (CT) year 1
and 2 (n=100)
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Specialty Registrars in years 3 to 8 (n=100)
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Forces doctors in training (n=50)
Flying Aptitude Test for Surgeons
Aptitude Domain
Domain Weight
Tests
Perceptual
20
VISS
Short Term Memory/Capacity
10
ACT
Spatial Reasoning
20
SIT
Psychomotor
40
RTT, SMA
Central Information Processing
10
VIGsp
Results so far
RAF Flying aptitude test: n=108
 LAP SIM tests: n=38

Mean Score: 52.37%
 Median: 51%
 Lowest score: 17%
 Highest score: 87%

Results of the first 28 participants
Flying Aptitude Test Index
Flying Aptitude Test and Lap Sim correlation
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Series2
0
500
1000
1500
Total time lap sim tests
2000
2500
Summary


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Identify a computer based selection test
based on the current RAF selection test
Tailored to select those candidates who
possess the technical abilities necessary
for successful postgraduate training where
the use of minimally invasive tools are
used.
This test can be used to assist the already
existing selection process of surgical
trainees in the UK