title: What device should be used for telementoring? Randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The paper analyzes behavioral patterns of mentors while using different mentoring devices to demonstrate the feasibility of multi-platform mentoring. The fundamental differences of devices supporting telementoring create threats for the perception and interpretation of the transmitted video, highlighting the necessity of exploring hardware usability aspects in a safety critical surgical mentoring scenario.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three types of devices, based on the screen size, formed the arms for the randomized controlled trial. Streaming video recordings of a laparoscopic procedure to the mentors imitated the mentoring scenario. User preferences and response times were recorded while participating in a session performed on all devices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median response to a mentoring request times were similar for mobile platforms; expected durations were considerably longer for stationary computer. Ability to perceive and identify anatomical structures was insignificantly lower on small sized devices. Stationary and tablet platforms were nearly equally preferred by the most of participants as default telementoring hardware.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a side effect, incompatibility of daily duties of the surgeons in the hospital and telementoring responsibilities while implementing systems locally was identified. Scaling up the use of the service in combination with the organizational changes of clinical staff looks like a promising solution.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The trial demonstrated the feasibility of using all three types of devices for the purpose of mentoring, allowing users to choose the preferred platform. The paper provided initial results on the quality assurance of telementoring systems imposed by the regulatory documents.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway. Electronic address: Andrius.Budrionis@telemed.no.
authors.forename: Andrius
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Budrionis
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Gunnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hartvigsen
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Rolv-Ole
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Lindsetmo
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Integrated Care and Telemedicine University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Johan Gustav
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Bellika
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors; D008875:Middle Aged; D012371:Robotics / Q000379:methods*; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Regulations; Telementoring; Telestration; Touchscreen; Usability