Assessment of Bronchoscopic Dexterity and Procedural Competency in a Low-fidelity Simulation Model

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Respiratory Medicine
• Surgical Simulation

Background:

• Traditional bronchoscopy competency assessment occurs in clinical settings.
• Concerns about procedural complications and learner anxiety drive interest in simulation.
• Low-fidelity simulation offers a potential alternative for competency assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate if low-fidelity simulation can discriminate bronchoscopist competency based on experience.
• To assess the reliability of simulation in differentiating skill levels.

Main Methods:

• Forty-four participants were grouped by bronchoscopy experience: novices (n=31), intermediates (n=7), and experts (n=6).
• Participants performed bronchoscopy in a 3D-printed airway model.
• Assessment included time to navigate to a target bronchus and the Bronchoscopy Skills and Tasks Assessment Tool.

Main Results:

• Successful navigation to the target bronchus significantly differed between groups (experts 100%, intermediates 64%, novices 31%; P<0.001).
• Bronchoscopic dexterity scores also varied significantly, with experts scoring higher (median scores: novices 3.5, intermediates 5, experts 8; P<0.001).

Conclusions:

• Low-fidelity simulation reliably discriminates skill levels in bronchoscopic navigation and airway inspection.
• Procedural dexterity can be assessed in a risk-free simulation environment.
• Simulation-based assessment offers a valuable tool for training and evaluating bronchoscopists.