Face, content, and construct validity of a simulator for training in endovascular procedures

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Simulation
• Endovascular Surgery

Background:

• Interest in structured endovascular surgical training programs is growing.
• Simulation offers a safe environment for acquiring essential surgical skills.
• Validating simulators is crucial for effective medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the face, content, and construct validity of the BEST (Basic Endovascular Skills Trainer) simulator.
• To evaluate the simulator's effectiveness in teaching basic endovascular surgery skills.
• To determine if the simulator can differentiate between skill levels of trainees.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 21 medical students, 26 residents, and 14 expert surgeons participated.
• Experts evaluated face and content validity using Likert scales.
• Construct validity was assessed by comparing performance of experts, residents, and students on simulator tasks.

Main Results:

• Experts rated the simulator highly for realism (face validity) and usefulness (content validity).
• Experts significantly outperformed students and residents on most tasks, demonstrating construct validity (p < .05).
• Skill differences persisted between groups even after repeated practice sessions.

Conclusions:

• The BEST simulator demonstrates strong face, content, and construct validity.
• It is a valuable tool for training basic endovascular surgery skills.
• The simulator effectively distinguishes between varying levels of surgical expertise.