BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate whether novices improve their ability to develop multitask (ie, automaticity) with accumulating experience on a simulated laparoscopic task. METHODS: In this prospective study, novices (12 premed students) trained for 4 months in laparoscopic suturing. Simultaneously with suturing, participants performed a visual-spatial secondary task to assess their spare attentional capacity. Trainees were required to achieve expert-derived levels in both suturing (520 score) and the secondary task (target 73%). Their performance was assessed with objective scores, and their ability to multitask during training was examined. RESULTS: After 10 +/- 5 hours and 84 +/- 41 repetitions, participants demonstrated improvements in their suturing (70%, P < 0.001) and secondary-task performance (16%, P = 0.08) compared with their baseline scores. During the study period, 11 of 12 participants achieved suturing proficiency, but no one achieved secondary-task proficiency. Longer training times correlated with higher secondary-task scores (r = .68, P < 0.02), and participants who performed >100 repetitions (n = 4) achieved higher secondary-task scores (P < 0.03). COMMENTS: This study provides evidence for improved automaticity at advanced stages of simulator training. Although novices achieve simulator proficiency after relatively short training durations, the attainment of automaticity requires substantially longer training periods. Further study of this concept is warranted and is currently underway.
BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to investigate whether novices improve their ability to develop multitask (ie, automaticity) with accumulating experience on a simulated laparoscopic task. METHODS: In this prospective study, novices (12 premed students) trained for 4 months in laparoscopic suturing. Simultaneously with suturing, participants performed a visual-spatial secondary task to assess their spare attentional capacity. Trainees were required to achieve expert-derived levels in both suturing (520 score) and the secondary task (target 73%). Their performance was assessed with objective scores, and their ability to multitask during training was examined. RESULTS: After 10 +/- 5 hours and 84 +/- 41 repetitions, participants demonstrated improvements in their suturing (70%, P < 0.001) and secondary-task performance (16%, P = 0.08) compared with their baseline scores. During the study period, 11 of 12 participants achieved suturing proficiency, but no one achieved secondary-task proficiency. Longer training times correlated with higher secondary-task scores (r = .68, P < 0.02), and participants who performed >100 repetitions (n = 4) achieved higher secondary-task scores (P < 0.03). COMMENTS: This study provides evidence for improved automaticity at advanced stages of simulator training. Although novices achieve simulator proficiency after relatively short training durations, the attainment of automaticity requires substantially longer training periods. Further study of this concept is warranted and is currently underway.
Authors: Ankit Patel; Meghna Patel; Nathaniel Lytle; Juan P Toro; Rachel L Medbery; Sheryl Bluestein; Sebastian D Perez; John F Sweeney; S Scott Davis; Edward Lin Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Tomoko Mizota; Nicholas E Anton; Elizabeth M Huffman; Michael J Guzman; Frederick Lane; Jennifer N Choi; Dimitrios Stefanidis Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2019-05-17 Impact factor: 4.584
Authors: Ganesh Sankaranarayanan; Coleman A Odlozil; Katerina O Wells; Steven G Leeds; Sanket Chauhan; James W Fleshman; Daniel B Jones; Suvranu De Journal: Am J Surg Date: 2020-02-10 Impact factor: 2.565
Authors: Jamie M Poolton; Frank F Zhu; Neha Malhotra; Gilberto K K Leung; Joe K M Fan; Rich S W Masters Journal: Surg Endosc Date: 2016-01-07 Impact factor: 4.584