Face and content validity of sheep heads in endoscopic rhinology training

Background: The objective of this study was to assess the face and content validity of the sheep head model in endoscopic rhinology training.

Methods: This study was a prospective evaluation study. Experienced otolaryngologists and trainees were recruited to complete 7 endoscopic rhinology tasks on pre-prepared sheep heads. All participants completed a validated 20-item questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale to assess the model across 4 domains: face validity (FV), global content (GC), task-specific content (TSC), and curriculum applicability (CTR).

Results: Participants, including 25 experienced otolaryngologists and 45 trainees, completed all tasks. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups' ratings for FV, GC, or CTR (p = 0.50.7, 0.278, and 0.157, respectively). The model achieved median face validity of 4 (interquartile range [IQR]: 4 to 5) with the agreement of experienced surgeons and trainees alike (95% and 90%, respectively). The median global content was 4 (IQR: 4 to 5 and agreement of 88% and 87%. There was some variation in the rating of task-specific content. A total of 6 tasks achieved validity with the agreement of experienced otolaryngologists. The highest-rated tasks were "examination under anesthesia" and "foreign body retrieval." Participants agreed on curriculum incorporation, transferability, and recommendation to trainees (median: 5; IQR: 4 to 5 and 95% to 97% agreement).

Conclusion: The sheep head model achieved face and content validity for endoscopic rhinology training. It is safe, affordable, and can aid early-years trainees in acquiring a range of basic endoscopic rhinology skills.