Face, content, and construct validity of a low-cost sinus surgery task trainer.

Objective: To assess the face, content, and construct validities of a low-cost sinus surgery task trainer in acquisition of skills for endoscopic sinus surgery.

Study Design: Prospective validation study.

Setting: Tertiary academic center.

Subjects And Methods: Attending otolaryngologists, otolaryngology residents at various levels of training, and medical students performed nasal endoscopy and 5 specific tasks using this model. Face and content validities were assessed based on the attendings' responses to a questionnaire evaluating the task trainer. Construct validity was determined by comparing novice to experienced performance using a validated checklist and globalized rating scale.

Results: A total of 77 subjects participated in the study. Attending otolaryngologists responded to a survey after completing the tasks. Eighty percent of evaluators rated the trainer as realistic and agreed that this model correlates with the essential skills needed for endoscopic sinus surgery, 90% felt this model provided adequate training and would increase resident competency, and 90% were interested in using the model to train residents. On the task trainer, experienced otolaryngologists and senior residents scored significantly higher than junior residents and medical students using the objective measures of the globalized rating scale and checklist.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates face, content, and construct validity of the low-cost sinus surgery task trainer. This model has the potential to be a valuable tool in endoscopic sinus surgery training for otolaryngology residents.