Strabismus surgical skills assessment tool: development of a surgical assessment tool for strabismus surgery training.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a structured tool to assess strabismus surgical skills and to determine the face and content validity of this tool.


METHODS
Development of a surgical assessment tool and its validation by an expert panel.


METHODS
A structured subjective evaluation form was developed to evaluate a trainee's technique and skill in strabismus surgery. The tool consists of strabismus surgery-specific components, such as conjunctival incision, muscle exposure, and suture placement, and global indices, such as hemostasis, tissue control, and knowledge of instruments. Each of these components was evaluated on a 5-point Likert scale. A survey of experienced strabismus surgeons was performed to establish the face and content validity of the tool. The results of the survey were used to amend the tool.


RESULTS
The final tool comprises 10 strabismus surgery-specific competencies and 7 global indices. The final version of the tool was deemed to address the vital aspects of a strabismus surgical procedure (face validity), and the components of the assessment tool were deemed to assess appropriate competencies and skills associated with the procedure (content validity).


CONCLUSIONS
The strabismus surgery skill assessment tool is a structured quantitative instrument designed to aid surgical evaluation and training of ophthalmic surgical trainees. The Strabismus Surgical Skill Assessment Tool is a paper-based tool that is easy to use, provides the trainee with detailed feedback and a measure of progression of their surgical skills, and stimulates discussion between trainee and trainer to direct further training.
Pilling
Rachel Fiona
RF
Department of Ophthalmology, Bradford Teaching Hospitals, Bradford, United Kingdom.
Bradbury
John Anthony
JA
Reddy
Aravind Rama
AR
D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D003228:Conjunctiva / Q000601:surgery; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000601:surgery; D013508:Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000295:instrumentation; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000193:education*; D013285:Strabismus / Q000601:surgery*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013536:Suture Techniques; D006113:United Kingdom