Validation of the Simulated Vaginal Hysterectomy Trainer

Abstract

Study objective: To establish construct validity of the simulated vaginal hysterectomy trainer (SimVaHT).

Design: A cross-sectional validation study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).

Setting: A single academic medical center in the United States.

Subjects: Fourteen residents in obstetrics and gynecology (4 postgraduate year [PGY] 1, 4 PGY-2, 3 PGY-3 and 3 PGY-4). PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents were grouped to form the "junior level" cohort, whereas PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents comprised the "senior level" cohort.

Interventions: Each participant underwent surgical skill simulation by performing a simulated vaginal hysterectomy on a practical, inexpensive vaginal hysterectomy trainer.

Measurements and main results: The primary outcome was resident surgical skill as assessed by the Objective Structured Assessment of Technical Skills Global Rating Scale (GRS). All obstetrics and gynecology residents were videotaped performing a simulated vaginal hysterectomy on the SimVaHT. The tapes were reviewed independently by 2 blinded urogynecology experts, each of whom provided a GRS score. The primary outcome was overall GRS scores. The secondary outcome was time to complete the exercise. GRS scores were compared between junior- and senior-level residents. Senior-level residents scored significantly higher on the GRS overall compared with junior-level residents (p = .008).

Conclusion: Construct validity was demonstrated for the SimVaHT. The SimVaHT is a practical and inexpensive tool that may improve resident vaginal surgical skills before their first case in the operating room.

Keywords: Resident education; Simulation; Training; Vaginal hysterectomy; Validation.