Low-fidelity exercises for basic surgical skills training and assessment.
BACKGROUND
The goal of this study was to develop and validate low-fidelity exercises for basic surgical skills training and assessment.


METHODS
Five low-fidelity exercises were developed and administered to 40 participants. Participants were classified as novice or proficient based on level of training. Objective metrics were used for scoring. The cost for assembling 1 complete set of 5 exercises and all necessary supplies for practice and evaluation was $150. Once this set was assembled, the subsequent cost for replacement material was $5/participant examined.


RESULTS
Twenty-four participants were categorized as novice and 16 as proficient. Proficient participants scored significantly higher than novice participants (P <.05) for exercises assessing needle-driving skills, 2-hand coordination, and knot tying, thus establishing construct validity. Cronbach's alpha coefficient for internal consistency was .78, which demonstrates the exercises' reliability as a testing instrument.


CONCLUSIONS
These data provide preliminary evidence of construct validity and internal consistency for a cost-effective series of low-fidelity basic surgical skills exercises.
Patel
Niyant V
NV
Department of Surgery, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI, USA. nvpatel@beaumont.edu
Robbins
James M
JM
Shanley
Charles J
CJ
D002983:Clinical Competence; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D004867:Equipment Design; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D009339:Needles; D013536:Suture Techniques