Mastery Learning - does the method of learning make a difference in skills acquisition for robotic surgery?

Background: Few studies compare the effectiveness of blocked vs random practice conditions in minimally invasive surgery training, and none have evaluated these in robotic surgery training. Methods: The dV-Trainer (R) and the da Vinci (R) Surgical System (dVSS) were used to compare practice conditions. Forty-two participants were randomized into blocked and random practice groups. Each participant performed five tasks: Ring Walk, Thread the Rings, Needle Targeting, Suture Sponge and Tubes Level 2. Transfer to the dVSS was also assessed. Results: No significant differences were observed between the two groups, except for a few instances. For example, during Ring Walk, the random group performed significantly faster than the blocked group (100.78 +/- 5.26 s vs 121.59 +/- 5.26 s, p < 0.01). Conclusions: The study results do not follow the current evidence presented in the education literature. This is the first time that blocked versus random practice was tested for robotic surgery training.