The study of visuospatial abilities in trainees: A scoping review and proposed model

Meagane Maurice-Ventouris; Hellmuth R Muller Moran; Mohammed Alharbi; Byunghoon Tony Ahn; Jason M Harley; Kevin J Lachapelle

doi:10.1016/j.sopen.2021.05.001

The study of visuospatial abilities in trainees: A scoping review and proposed model

Surg Open Sci. 2021 May 12:5:25-33. doi: 10.1016/j.sopen.2021.05.001. eCollection 2021 Jul.

Authors

Meagane Maurice-Ventouris¹, Hellmuth R Muller Moran^{1

2}, Mohammed Alharbi¹, Byunghoon Tony Ahn¹, Jason M Harley^{1

3}, Kevin J Lachapelle¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Canada.
² Department of Surgery, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada.
³ Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Canada.

Abstract

Background: Visuospatial abilities are an important component of technical skill acquisition. Targeted visuospatial ability training may have positive implications for training programs. The development of such interventions requires an adequate understanding of the visuospatial ability processes necessary for surgical and nonsurgical tasks. This scoping review aims to identify the components of visuospatial ability that have been reported in surgical and nonsurgical trainees and determine if there is consensus regarding the language and psychometric measures used, clarifying the elements that may be required to develop interventions that enhance visuospatial ability.

Methods: A scoping review was designed to identify relevant records from EMBASE and Medline until January 13, 2020. Data were extracted on visuospatial ability terminology, dimensions, instruments, and interventions with results stratified by specialty (surgical, nonsurgical, or mixed). Conference abstracts, opinion pieces, and review studies were excluded.

Results: Out of 882 total records, 26 were identified that met criteria for inclusion. Surgical specialities were represented in > 90% of results. A total of 16 unique terms were used to describe visuospatial ability and were measured using 34 instruments, of which eight were used more than once. Eighteen different dimensions were identified. A single study explored the effects of a targeted visuospatial ability intervention.

Conclusion: A wide range of visuospatial ability terms, instruments, and dimensions were identified, suggesting an incomplete understanding of the components most relevant to surgical and nonsurgical tasks. This confusion may be hindering the development of visuospatial ability targeted interventions during residency training. A rigorous methodological model is proposed to help unify the field and guide future research.

Keywords: BVMT-R, Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised; CCT, Cube Comparison Test; CRT, Card Rotation Test; MPT, Map Planning Test; MR, mental rotation; MRT, Mental Rotation Test; SO, Spatial Orientation; SP, spatial planning; SS, spatial scanning; VSA, visuospatial ability.

Publication types

Review