Study proposes using this fruit as a training tool

Study proposes using this fruit as a training tool

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

July 2022

by Liz Hillman 
Editorial Co-Director

According to a recent study, grapes could be used for more than just eating and juicing. 

Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology suggests that the viniferous fruit could be used as a training model. Zhang et al. compared the use of grapes, as a model for learning basic microsurgical skills, to the use of a virtual reality (VR) modulator. 

Ophthalmology residents with novice level skills were randomized to 4-hour training on the fruit-based model or the virtual reality model with silicone suture pads. The residents took a questionnaire before and after the training in order to measure self confidence with the operation and, in general, as a surgical assistant. The authors reported that after the training period, each resident also indicated their interest in further study of microsurgery, and a general competency assessment of skills on porcine eyes was conducted. 

grapes

There were 83 participants: 42 trained with the grape model and 41 with the virtual reality model. According to the investigators, those trained using the grapes for a corneal suturing assessment performed better in terms of uniformity of suture span, suture thickness, and tissue protection. The scores were comparable among the two groups during corneal suturing and circular capsulorhexis assessment on porcine eyes. The authors also reported that those trained with the grapes had a more positive attitude during the 4-hour training period, and they were more willing to “receive more times of the training in the future.”

The authors concluded that “training models based on grapes are equal to VR simulators and silicon suture pads to provide solid training tasks for ophthalmology residents to master basic microsurgical skills, and might have advantages in lower economic cost, and easy availability.”

This is not the first time grapes—or another food product—have been proposed for microsurgical skill training. A study published in 2020 came to a similar conclusion that “grapes proved to be capable of simulating the basic stages of microsurgery suture training.”2 Use of potatoes has been proposed for training in ophthalmic surgical technique as well.3

References

  1. Zhang Z, et al. Skills assessment after a grape-based microsurgical course for ophthalmology residents: randomised controlled trial. Br J Ophthalmol. 2022. Online ahead of print.  
  2. dos Santos DR, et al. The ophthalmologist and the grapes: A microsurgical training model. Rev Bras Oftalmol. 2020;79:366–369.
  3. Golash V, et al. Low-tech intraocular ophthalmic microsurgery simulation: A low-cost model for home use. Indian J Ophthalmol. 2021;69:2846–2850.