Abstract
The rapid evolution of remote learning technologies in graduate medical education (GME) necessitates high-fidelity simulation environments that extend beyond traditional visual and auditory feedback. Wearable haptic feedback systems offer a promising mechanism to convey fine force interactions during decentralized surgical training. This study evaluates the efficacy, usability, and skill acquisition performance of a novel wearable haptic feedback glove system compared to conventional visual-only simulation training for laparoscopic procedural tasks. Forty-two surgical residents were randomly assigned to either a haptic-enhanced training cohort or a visual-only control group across three remote medical simulation centers over a four-week period. Participants performed standardized minimally invasive tasks, including peg transfer, pattern cutting, and intracorporeal knot tying. Quantitative evaluation encompassed Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills (OSATS) scores, completion time, tool path length, force variation, and subjective usability via the System Usability Scale (SUS) and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). Results demonstrated that the haptic-enhanced cohort achieved significantly greater gains in overall OSATS scores (p < .001), executed tasks 28.4% faster, and exhibited superior force moderation with 41.2% fewer tissue-damage simulation errors. Usability evaluations yielded a mean SUS score of 84.2 (±5.6), indicating excellent acceptability, alongside reduced physical and mental demand ratings. These findings indicate that integrating wearable haptics into remote surgical simulation significantly accelerates psychomotor skill acquisition and enhances training fidelity for modern GME curricula.
