A simple assessment tool for evaluation of cadaveric temporal bone dissection.

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery Education
• Surgical Skills Assessment
• Medical Training Tools

Background:

• Objective metrics are crucial for evaluating trainee performance in skill-based medical education.
• Assessing resident proficiency in complex procedures like cadaveric temporal-bone (CTB) dissection requires reliable tools.

Purpose of the Study:

• To validate a concise and user-friendly instrument for assessing resident skill during timed CTB dissection.
• To determine the instrument's reliability, reproducibility, and ability to differentiate trainee experience levels.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective analysis was conducted using an instrument developed over six years for yearly timed CTB dissections.
• Five neurotologists assessed resident performance, with scores compared to a senior neurotologist using Spearman's correlation.
• The instrument's ability to distinguish novice from experienced trainees and track improvement was evaluated.

Main Results:

• High correlation (r = 0.883, P < 0.001) was found between the senior neurotologist's scores and aggregated reviewer scores, indicating strong reproducibility.
• Three specific tasks—posterior canal dissection, opening the membranous labyrinth, and disruption of the ossicular chain—effectively differentiated novice from senior residents.
• The instrument was used over six years, assessing thirty residents.

Conclusions:

• A novel instrument for assessing resident skill in CTB dissection has been developed and validated.
• The instrument is easy to use, provides consistent scores across reviewers, and is sensitive to individual experience.
• This tool offers objective performance measures, distinguishing trainee levels and demonstrating skill progression.