Sinus surgery simulation has proven to be a valuable teaching tool, yet the cost of many simulators limits the incorporation of this technology into training programs. The authors developed an inexpensive endoscopic sinus surgery task trainer and evaluated its value as a means of developing basic endoscopy and sinus surgery skills. For less than 5 US dollars, the training model was constructed using gelatin and embedded with reusable, recyclable, and readily available materials. Ten attending otolaryngologists performed nasal endoscopy and 5 specific tasks using this model, followed by completion of a survey evaluating the value of the model as a teaching tool. The model scored very well in promoting camera skills, instrumentation, and hand-eye coordination. This easily reproducible, highly rated sinus surgery task trainer can serve as an alternative to more expensive simulators. Studies are under way to determine its validity and effectiveness as both a teaching and assessment tool.

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.

The sinus surgery task trainer provides an effective means of teaching and evaluating nasal endoscopy and basic sinus surgery skills for novice surgeons. With repeated practice, there was significant improvement in performance. An OSATS using the sinus surgery task trainer suggests that we can effectively measure endoscopic sinus surgery ability with the potential to reliably determine competency outside the operating room.

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