Evaluation of a novel electronic fetal monitor simulator

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the content validity and construct validity of a novel electronic fetal monitor (EFM) simulator. Fourteen residents in Gynecology and Obstetrics (OB/GYN) and 7 medical students in their OB/GYN clerkship interpreted 10 fetal heart rate (FHR) tracings and 4 clinical scenarios generated by the EFM simulator. Their responses were scored by experts in maternal-fetal medicine. Construct validity was determined by comparing subjects' scores to their level of experience. Subjects assessed content validity of the EFM simulator by rating the realism of its various elements on a 4-point Likert scale. Residents achieved statistically significant higher mean scores in the description of FHR tracings generated by the simulator than medical students and statistically significant higher mean scores in the correct interpretation of and interventions in 2 of 4 clinical scenarios. Two-thirds of the residents rated the simulator-generated FHR tracings and clinical scenarios as "real" or "very real." The EFM simulator exhibited both content and construct validity, supporting its use in an educational setting.