Validation of a new basic virtual reality simulator for training of basic endoscopic skills: the SIMENDO

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education Technology
• Virtual Reality in Medicine

Background:

• Assessing the validity of new medical simulators is crucial for effective surgical training.
• The SIMENDO simulator was developed to train basic endoscopic skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish content, face, concurrent, and construct validity of the SIMENDO simulator.
• To determine the simulator's usefulness for training basic endoscopic skills.

Main Methods:

• Content validity was assessed through simulator feature explanations.
• Face validity was evaluated using a 28-question survey completed by experts and trainees.
• Concurrent validity was tested by comparing the simulator's training effect with a conventional trainer.
• Construct validity was initially assessed by comparing expert and novice performance.

Main Results:

• The SIMENDO simulator achieved high scores for task usefulness and realism.
• No significant differences were found in scores between experts and trainees for face validity.
• The simulator showed no significant difference in training effect compared to a conventional trainer (concurrent validity).
• Experts performed significantly better than novices on simulator tasks (construct validity).

Conclusions:

• The SIMENDO simulator possesses established content, face, and concurrent validity.
• The simulator is deemed useful for training eye-hand coordination in endoscopic surgery.
• The evaluated task provides initial evidence of construct validity by discriminating skill levels.