Eye-Tracking – Effect of Expertise and Previous Experience on Evaluation Patterns of Dermatoscopic Images

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Poster presentation

Description

Eye tracking technology is being used in different domains of life including medicine. Different parameters can be used to draw conclusions about visual cognition processes in response to specific stimuli. It can be speculated that to large extent these parameters rely on persons expertise. Dermatoscopy is a non-invasive diagnostic procedure that is used by dermatologists to evaluate cutaneous lesions. Currently, there are sparse studies on eye tracking in dermatology. Eye tracking can help in understanding how experts and novices process dermatoscopic images, to improve teaching strategies. The aim of our pilot study was to track eye movement of dermatoscopy specialists with different experience and to compare eye movement while assessing images never seen before and the ones already observed.. Eye movement of a dermatologist and resident was registered using an eye tracking device EyeLink 1000 Plus (SR Research, Canada). Participants assessed 10 dermatoscopic images and determined the diagnosis. Half of the images were seen beforehand. Fixation count, fixation duration and saccade amplitudes were measured and compared between the participants and between images that were seen for the first time, and the ones observed before. Non-parametric statistics was used for data analysis. Fixations were afterwards correlated with dermatoscopic structures.. Resident’s fixation duration was significantly longer than dermatologist’s (378.4 SD=69.5 ms vs. 307.9 SD=46.7 ms, p=0.021). Fixation count was lower while observing images that were seen previously (9.6 SD=6.2 vs. 14.9 SD=6.6), the difference was not statistically significant (p=0.065). Analysis of eye movement patterns revealed certain areas of interest with repetitive fixations.. Less experienced physician tends to have a shorter fixation duration. This contradicts previous findings; however, we believe that areas with repetitive fixations should also be considered during data interpretation. Larger scale studies are essential to draw further conclusions.
Period29 Mar 2023
Event titleRSU International Research Conference 2023: Knowledge for Use in Practice
Event typeConference
OrganiserRīga Stradiņš University
LocationRiga, LatviaShow on map
Degree of RecognitionInternational

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