Comparing Two Training Methods for Learning Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is one of the most technically demanding procedures in robotic urologic surgery and requires structured training to ensure safe and effective skill acquisition. The Certified Curriculum in Robotic Radical Prostatectomy (CC-ERUS) is a proficiency-based training pathway developed by the European Association of Urology Robotic Urology Section (ERUS) to standardize training and assessment in RARP. The curriculum includes simulation-based training, biological models, and human cadaver training before participants are assessed for proficiency.

The use of biological training models presents ethical, logistical, regulatory, and scalability challenges. High-fidelity synthetic hydrogel models have recently been developed as potential alternatives that may provide realistic anatomical representation and tissue handling characteristics while reducing reliance on biological models. The present study evaluates whether incorporation of the IMRA Surgical Prostatectomy Class V Hydrogel Model within a standardized RARP training pathway results in training outcomes that are non-inferior to those achieved using the current standard training pathway.

This study is a prospective, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial embedded within a standardized five-day robotic surgery training course at ORSI Academy. Participants will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to one of two training pathways. Both pathways are identical in educational content, duration, faculty supervision, and learning objectives. The only difference between groups is the training modality used during Day 4 of the course. Participants assigned to the standard pathway will train on human cadaver models, whereas participants assigned to the experimental pathway will train using the IMRA Surgical Prostatectomy Class V Hydrogel Model.

On Day 5, all participants will undergo training and assessment on human cadaver models under identical conditions. Technical performance will be evaluated using validated procedure-specific metrics for robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. The primary objective is to determine whether the hydrogel-based training pathway is non-inferior to the standard pathway with respect to achievement of predefined proficiency criteria during the final human cadaver assessment. Additional analyses will evaluate technical performance metrics, procedural errors, task completion parameters, participant confidence, perceived readiness to perform RARP, cognitive workload, and participant evaluation of the training pathway.