Development of a Tool to Assess Competency in Bronchoscopic Lung Volume Reduction Via Endobronchial Valve Placement

RATIONALE: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction (BLVR) is an established treatment option for severe emphysema, improving lung function and quality of life. Despite its growing use, there are no standardized, validated tools to assess operator competency in performing BLVR, limiting training and credentialing. OBJECTIVE: To examine the validity of the VSTAT tools, which were designed to assess competency in cognitive and technical skills necessary for BLVR. METHODS: The Zephyr and Spiration VSTAT tools were used to assess 29 operators with varying levels of experience. Participants were categorized as Beginners, Intermediates, and Experts. Performance was evaluated through simulated scenarios. Scores were analyzed for reliability, validity, and correlation with clinical experience. RESULTS: The tools demonstrated strong internal consistency (Cronbach α=0.88 for Zephyr and 0.77 for Spiration). Significant differences in scores were observed across proficiency levels, with experts outperforming beginners. VSTAT scores correlated strongly with procedural experience (Spearman ρ=0.95 for Zephyr, ρ=0.70 for Spiration). CONCLUSION: The VSTAT tools provide a reliable and valid method for assessing BLVR competency. Their integration into training programs and certification processes could standardize the assessment of operator competency in BLVR.