Cosmetic Surgery Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Cosmetic Surgery, including details on microsurgery, reconstruction, techniques, risks.

The use of a cognitive task analysis-based multimedia program to teach surgical decision making in flexor tendon repair.

Luker KR, Sullivan ME, Peyre SE, Sherman R, Grunwald T

Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Santa Monica, CA, USA.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the surgical knowledge of residents before and after receiving a cognitive task analysis-based multimedia teaching module. METHODS: Ten plastic surgery residents were evaluated performing flexor tendon repair on 3 occasions. Traditional learning occurred between the first and second trial and served as the control. A teaching module was introduced as an intervention between the second and third trial using cognitive task analysis to illustrate decision-making skills. RESULTS: All residents showed improvement in their decision-making ability when performing flexor tendon repair after each surgical procedure. The group improved through traditional methods as well as exposure to our talk-aloud protocol (P > .01). After being trained using the cognitive task analysis curriculum the group displayed a statistically significant knowledge expansion (P < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Residents receiving cognitive task analysis-based multimedia surgical curriculum instruction achieved greater command of problem solving and are better equipped to make correct decisions in flexor tendon repair.

Published 17 December 2007 in Am J Surg, 195(1): 11-5.
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