A Low-Cost, Easily Implementable Model for Multiskill Hands-On Training in Otolaryngology Education

Early exposure to otolaryngology-head and neck surgery is limited in undergraduate medical education, and existing hands-on training programs are often resource-intensive or focused on single procedures, restricting their broader implementation. This study aimed to develop a low-cost, easily implementable, and reproducible multiskill hands-on training model in otolaryngology and to evaluate its educational validity.

This retrospective study evaluated a structured, rotation-based hands-on seminar conducted at a single academic institution between 2024 and 2025. Participants included fourth- to sixth-year medical students and postgraduate year (PGY) 1-2 residents. The intervention was a 70-min, four-station, low-cost training model (endoscopic sinus surgery, ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration, otologic skills, and tracheostomy) designed for standardized, reproducible implementation. Educational validity was assessed using pre- and postseminar self-reported measures of knowledge, procedural skills, and interest in otolaryngology, as well as overall satisfaction.

A total of 27 participants were included. Self-assessed knowledge and procedural skills improved significantly across all domains following the seminar (all p < 0.001). Interest in otolaryngology also increased significantly. Participants reported high overall satisfaction with the program. During follow-up, 9 participants (33.3%) chose otolaryngology as their specialty.

This study presents a low-cost, multiskill hands-on training model that is feasible to implement and reproducible in routine educational settings, even in time-constrained clinical environments. The findings support the educational validity of this structured approach for early procedural exposure in otolaryngology. This model may provide a practical strategy for integrating multiskill training into otolaryngology education, particularly in resource-limited settings.

Level V.