The Study of Visuospatial Abilities in Trainees: A Scoping Review and Proposed Model

Abstract Background Visuospatial abilities (VSA) are an important component of technical skill acquisition. Targeted VSA training may have positive implications for training programs. The development of such interventions requires an adequate understanding of the VSA processes necessary for surgical and non-surgical tasks. This scoping review aims to identify the components of VSA that have been reported in surgical and non-surgical 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 VSA. Methods A scoping review was designed to identify relevant records from EMBASE and Medline until January 13th, 2020. Data was extracted on VSA terminology, dimensions, instruments, and interventions with results stratified by specialty (surgical, non-surgical, 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 VSA 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 VSA intervention. Conclusions A wide range of VSA terms, instruments, and dimensions were identified, suggesting an incomplete understanding of the components most relevant to surgical and non-surgical tasks. This confusion may be hindering the development of VSA targeted interventions during residency training. A rigorous methodological model is proposed to help unify the field and guide future research.