Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32820649›Full record

SynthesisAnnals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England2020

Virtual reality training compared with apprenticeship training in laparoscopic surgery: a meta-analysis.

M Portelli, S F Bianco, T Bezzina, J E Abela

Registry-linked trialAbstract readComparative StudyMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06917755 (The Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality Training in Thyroid Surgery), which is not on this map. Cited by 42 papers, 4 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
42citing papers in PubMed, 4 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06917755 narecruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

The Impact of Immersive Virtual Reality Training in Thyroid Surgery: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial

TypeinterventionalSponsorG.Gennimatas General HospitalRan2025 to 2025Enrolled12ConditionsVirtual Reality Simulation, Thyroid SurgeryArmsVirtual Reality Training in Thyroid Surgery, Convetional Training
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

42 citing papers in PubMed, 4 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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  13. Virtual reality simulation training in stroke thrombectomy centers with limited patient volume-Simulator performance and patient outcome.Interventional neuroradiology : journal of peritherapeutic neuroradiology, surgical procedures and related neurosciences · 2026
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  16. From crystal structure to 3D printing to virtual reality in the classroom.Acta crystallographica. Section E, Crystallographic communications · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

M PortelliDepartment of Surgery, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
S F BiancoDepartment of Surgery, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
T BezzinaDepartment of Pathology, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.
J E AbelaDepartment of Surgery, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSince its inception, laparoscopic surgery has evolved and new techniques have been developed due to technological advances. This requires a different and more complex skill set in comparison with open surgery. Reduced working hours, less training time and patient safety factors demand that such skills need to be achieved outside the operating theatre environment. Several studies have been published and have determined the effectiveness of virtual reality training. We aimed to compare virtual reality training with the traditional apprenticeship method of training and determine whether it can supplement or replace the traditional apprenticeship model. We also aimed to perform a meta-analysis of the literature and develop conclusions with respect to the benefits achieved by adding virtual reality training on a regular basis to surgical training programmes.

methodsA literature search was carried out on PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE and Google Scholar academic search engines using the MESH terms 'randomised controlled trials', 'virtual reality', 'laparoscopy', 'surgical education' and 'surgical training'. All randomised controlled trials published to January 2018 comparing virtual reality training to apprenticeship training were included. Data were collected on improved dexterity, operative performance and operating times. Each outcome was calculated with 95% confidence intervals and with intention-to-treat analysis; 24 randomised controlled trials were analysed.

findingsMeta-analytical data were extracted for time, path length, instrument handling, tissue handling, error scores and objective structure assessment of technical skills scoring. There was significant improvement in individual trainee skill in all meta-analyses (

conclusionThis meta-analysis shows that virtual reality not only improves efficiency in the trainee's surgical practice but also improves quality with reduced error rates and improved tissue handling.

Indexed as

Clinical ClerkshipVirtual RealityHumansLaparoscopyApprenticeship trainingLaparoscopyPatient safetyRandomised controlled trialsVirtual reality

Identifiers

PMID32820649
PMCPMC7591600

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.