The FAST Workstation Shows Construct Validity and Participant Endorsement

Area of Science:

• Surgical Education
• Medical Simulation
• Orthopaedic Surgery

Background:

• Basic arthroscopic skills training requires effective assessment tools.
• Simulation-based interventions (SBIs) offer a controlled environment for skill acquisition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a proposed simulation-based intervention (SBI) for basic arthroscopic skills training.
• To determine if the SBI can differentiate between varying levels of arthroscopic experience.

Main Methods:

• Twenty surgical candidates were divided into experience-based groups.
• Performance was assessed using time to completion, error rates, and the Global Rating Scale.
• Qualitative feedback was gathered via a structured questionnaire.

Main Results:

• Performance on the SBI varied significantly based on prior arthroscopic training, particularly in time to completion and Global Rating Scale scores.
• The SBI was rated as acceptable, user-friendly, and realistic by participants.
• Expert-level trainees found the SBI beneficial for developing fundamental arthroscopic skills.

Conclusions:

• The benchtop SBI, equipped with specific components and metrics, effectively identifies differences in arthroscopic experience levels.
• The SBI's acceptability and utility support its feasibility for incorporation into surgical training curricula.
• This study reinforces the value of benchtop SBIs for enhancing basic arthroscopic skills and recommends their adoption in formal training programs.