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- Talk
- UK
The Impact of Cognitive Task Analysis on Surgical Education: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Description
The presentation by Alexander Coombs, a fourth-year medical student from Cardiff University, focuses on the application of cognitive task analysis (CTA) in surgical training. Coombs introduces the need to improve the cognitive skills of surgical trainees, as existing methods often lead to the forgetting of critical decision-making points by surgeons. He discusses the systematic review of existing literature on CTA and its effectiveness in teaching surgical procedures to trainees.
Coombs explains that surgical competency requires a balance of psychomotor skills and co-decision making, but highlights a gap in how cognitive skills are traditionally taught. By employing CTA, a structured methodology involving expert interviews to break down surgical processes into discrete steps, the research aims to integrate those insights into training modules. His findings show a significant improvement in procedural knowledge and technical performance among trainees who used CTA-based training compared to those who received conventional training methods.
The meta-analysis of 12 studies indicated a large training effect favoring CTA, identifying it as a highly effective adjunct to traditional surgical training. As the presentation wraps up, Coombs suggests that while CTA cannot replace hands-on training in the operating theater, it fulfills a critical need for cognitive skills training, especially post-COVID-19, amidst restrictions on surgical practice. He welcomes questions and reflects on the future of surgical education, emphasizing the alignment of cognitive training with enhanced patient outcomes.