Development and validation of a low-cost microsurgery Ear Trainer for low-resource settings

Area of Science:

• Medical Simulation
• Surgical Education
• Otology

Background:

• Chronic suppurative otitis media affects millions globally, disproportionately impacting impoverished regions.
• Effective training for otologic procedures is crucial, especially in resource-poor settings.
• Non-governmental organizations require integrated training solutions for their programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an ear surgery simulator for training in resource-limited environments.
• To assess the simulator's effectiveness in teaching headlight and microsurgical skills for ear canal procedures.

Main Methods:

• Developed an "Ear Trainer" simulator with six distinct surgical tasks.
• Assessed face validity through participant questionnaires.
• Evaluated construct validity by having participants with varied experience perform tasks, scored by blinded experts.

Main Results:

• The "Ear Trainer" demonstrated strong face validity, perceived as a realistic ear representation.
• Construct validity was confirmed, showing a significant trend where experts outperformed less experienced individuals and novices.

Conclusions:

• The developed "Ear Trainer" is a validated and effective tool for assessing essential headlight and microsurgical skills.
• This simulator offers a valuable solution for otologic surgical training in resource-constrained areas.