Can a Simple Model Have Value Without Validation? A Study to Develop and (Attempt to) Validate a Bovine Caudal Epidural Model and Rubric.

This article focuses on the development and validation of a bovine caudal epidural model designed to teach veterinary students the clinical skill of placing a caudal epidural, a procedure essential for analgesia in cattle. The model, constructed from silicone and latex tubing to simulate anatomical landmarks and the epidural space, was evaluated by experienced veterinarians and veterinary students using a scoring rubric and surveys. While experts rated the model positively for realism, ease of use, and teaching suitability (content evidence), and the rubric demonstrated acceptable reliability (internal structure evidence), there was no significant difference in performance scores between expert veterinarians and novice students (relationship with other variables evidence), indicating the model and rubric could not be fully validated. The study concludes that despite the lack of validation, simple clinical skills models like this one may still hold educational value by allowing students to practice and gain confidence before performing procedures on live animals.