Three-dimensional simulation for interventional cardiology procedures: Face and content validity

Carolina Sequeira; Manuel Oliveira-Santos; João Borges Rosa; João Silva Marques; Eduardo Oliveira Santos; Gustavo Norte; Lino Gonçalves

doi:10.1016/j.repc.2023.11.006

Three-dimensional simulation for interventional cardiology procedures: Face and content validity

Rev Port Cardiol. 2024 Feb 22:S0870-2551(24)00068-4. doi: 10.1016/j.repc.2023.11.006. Online ahead of print.

[Article in English, Portuguese]

Authors

Carolina Sequeira¹, Manuel Oliveira-Santos², João Borges Rosa³, João Silva Marques⁴, Eduardo Oliveira Santos⁵, Gustavo Norte⁶, Lino Gonçalves⁷

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal. Electronic address: carolinasequeira7@gmail.com.
² Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; 3D CardioSolutions, Coimbra, Portugal.
³ Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁴ 3D CardioSolutions, Coimbra, Portugal; Serviço de Cardiologia, CHULN Hospital de Santa Maria, Lisboa, Portugal; Structural and Coronary Heart Disease Unit, Centro Cardiovascular da Universidade de Lisboa (CCUL@RISE), Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
⁵ 3D CardioSolutions, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁶ Centro Hospitalar de Trás-Os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal.
⁷ Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Serviço de Cardiologia, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

PMID: 38401705
DOI: 10.1016/j.repc.2023.11.006

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Three-dimensional (3D) model simulation provides the opportunity to manipulate real devices and learn intervention skills in a realistic, controlled, and safe environment. To ensure that simulators provide a realistic surrogate to real procedures they must undergo scientific validation. We aimed to evaluate the 3D-printed simulator SimulHeart® for face and content validity to demonstrate its value as a training tool in interventional cardiology (IC).

Methods: Health professionals were recruited from sixteen Portuguese IC units. All participants received a 30-minute theoretical introduction, 10-minute demonstration of each task and then performed the intervention on a 3D-printed simulator (SimulHeart®). Finally, a post-training questionnaire focusing on the appearance of the simulation, simulation content, and satisfaction/self-efficacy was administered.

Results: We included 56 participants: 16 "experts" (general and interventional cardiologists), 26 "novices" (cardiology residents), and 14 nurses and allied professionals. On a five-point Likert scale, the overall mean score of face validity was 4.38±0.35 and the overall mean score of content validity was 4.69±0.32. There was no statistically significant difference in the scores provided by "experts" and "novices". Participants reported a high level of satisfaction/self-efficacy with 60.7% considering it strongly improved their skills. The majority (82.1%) "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that after the simulation they felt confident to perform the procedure on a patient.

Conclusion: The 3D-printed simulator (SimulHeart®) showed excellent face and content validity. 3D simulation may play an important role in future IC training programs. Further research is required to correlate simulator performance with clinical performance in real patients.

Keywords: 3D printing; Education; Educação; Impressão 3D; Intervenção coronária percutânea; Patient-specific simulation; Percutaneous coronary intervention; Revascularization; Revascularização; Simulation training; Simulação paciente-específica; Treino em simulação.