Subjective anxiety ratings before and after stressful neurosurgical virtual reality tumor resection task

Subjective anxiety ratings before and after stressful neurosurgical virtual reality tumor resection task

Authors: A Winkler-Schwartz, J Fares, B Khalid, M Baggiani, S Christie, F Alotaibi, G Al-Zharni, A Sabbagh, H Azarnoush, P Werthner, R Del Maestro

Publication date: 2015
 
Journal: Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences
 
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
 
Description:
Background
 
The availability of virtual reality (VR) surgical simulators affords the opportunity to assess the influence of stress on neurosurgical operative performance in a controlled laboratory environment. This study sought to examine the effect of a stressful VR neurosurgical task on the subjective anxiety ratings of participants with varying levels of surgical expertise.
Methods
 
Twenty four participants comprised of six staff neurosurgeons, six senior neurosurgical residents (PGY4-6), six junior neurosurgical residents (PGY1-3), and six senior medical students took part in a bimanual VR tumor removal task with a component of sudden uncontrollable intra-operative bleeding. State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) questionnaires were completed immediately pre and post the stress stimulus. The STAI questionnaire consisted of six items (calm, tense, upset, relaxed, content and worried) measured on a Likert scale.
Results …
 

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