Quantitative analysis of gaze and body movement differences by proficiency in direct and video laryngoscope intubation.

In the practice of medicine, tracheal intubation is a critical procedure, yet medical education often lacks quantitative instructional methods, relying instead on intuitive guidance from experts. This study used motion capture and eye tracking to analyze differences in movement and gaze between novices and experts during tracheal intubation. It also compared the use of direct and video laryngoscopes. Results showed that with a direct laryngoscope, experts directed their gaze farther than novices during the laryngoscope insertion phase, with a significant difference in eye-to-gaze distance [experts: 0.465 m; novices: 0.325 m; t (12) = 2.690, p = 0.020]. No significant difference was found when a video laryngoscope was used, suggesting that novices could perform expert gaze behavior. Head movement analysis revealed that experts maintained a greater distance from the mannequin’s mouth when using direct laryngoscopes (experts: 0.529 m; novices: 0.331 m). With video laryngoscopes, the gap narrowed (experts: 0.550 m; novices: 0.457 m). A t-test comparing novice head-to-mouth distance between device types showed a significant difference [t (14) = 4.355, p = 0.001]. These findings highlight how video laryngoscopes may help novices approximate expert behavior, offering potential for improved training methods.