SCETF: Serious game surgical cognitive education and training framework

Surgical proficiency requires command of both technical and cognitive skills. Although at times overlooked, cognitive skills training allows residents to practise detecting errors ultimately leading to a reduction of errors. Virtual simulations and serious games offer a viable alternative to practice in an actual operating room where traditionally both technical and cognitive skills acquisition takes places. They provide residents the opportunity to train until they reach a specific competency level in a safe, cost effective, fun, and engaging manner allowing them to make more effective use of their limited training time in the operating room. Here we introduce a serious game surgical cognitive education and training framework (SCETF) that is currently being developed specifically for cognitive surgical skills training. Domain-specific surgical “modules” can then be built on top of the existing framework, utilizing common simulation elements/assets. The SCETF is being developed as a research tool where various simulation parameters such as levels of audio and visual fidelity, can be easily adjusted allowing for the controlled testing of such factors on knowledge transfer and retention.