Content Validity Assessment of a Virtual Patient-Based Learning Platform for TMD Education among Orofacial Pain...

Area of Science:

• Dental Education
• Medical Simulation
• Oral Health

Background:

• Dental predoctoral training often lacks sufficient clinical exposure to temporomandibular disorders (TMD).
• A virtual patient-based learning (VPBL) platform was developed to address this gap in TMD education.
• This study evaluated the content validity of the VPBL platform among orofacial pain (OFP) experts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the content validity of a newly developed VPBL platform for predoctoral TMD education.
• To determine the suitability of the VPBL platform's virtual patients (VPs) for teaching OFP conditions.

Main Methods:

• Developed a digital platform with 20 virtual patients (VPs) covering common OFP conditions based on Diagnostic Criteria for TMD.
• OFP experts evaluated 4 VPs (one from each module: muscular-TMD, articular-TMD, mixed-TMD, non-TMD) using the Suitability Assessment of Materials.
• Assessed content validity using Item-Level Content Validity Index (I-CVI), Scale-CVI/Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA), and total suitability score.

Main Results:

• The VPBL platform achieved a total suitability score of 89.1% (superior material) and an average VP CVI of 0.95.
• The Scale-CVI/Universal Agreement (S-CVI/UA) was 0.93, indicating excellent overall validity.
• The literacy level domain received lower scores, indicating a reading level above 9th grade.

Conclusions:

• The VPBL platform demonstrates excellent content validity for predoctoral TMD education among OFP experts.
• The platform is considered superior material for enhancing dental students' understanding of TMD.
• Future implementation in predoctoral dental schools is planned.