title: Part Task and variable priority training in first-year anesthesia resident education: a combined didactic and simulation-based approach to improve management of adverse airway and respiratory events.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Part task training (PTT) focuses on dividing complex tasks into components followed by intensive concentrated training on individual components. Variable priority training (VPT) focuses on optimal distribution of attention when performing multiple tasks simultaneously with the goal of flexible allocation of attention. This study explored how principles of PTT and VPT adapted to anesthesia training would improve first-year anesthesiology residents' management of simulated adverse airway and respiratory events. The authors hypothesized that participants with PTT and VPT would perform better than those with standard training.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two first-year anesthesia residents were randomly divided into two groups and trained over 12 months. The control group received standard didactic and simulation-based training. The experimental group received similar training but with emphasis on PTT and VPT techniques. Participant ability to manage seven adverse airway and respiratory events were assessed before and after the training period. Performance was measured by the number of correct tasks, making a correct diagnosis, assessment of perceived workload, and an assessment of scenario comprehension.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants in both groups exhibited significant improvement in all metrics after a year of training. Participants in the experimental group were able to complete more tasks and answered more comprehension questions correctly. There was no difference in perceived workload or the number of correct diagnoses between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study in part confirmed the study hypotheses. The results suggest that VPT and PTT are promising adjuncts to didactic and simulation-based training for management of adverse airway and respiratory events.
authors.affiliation: Center for Patient Stimulation, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132-2304, USA. ken.b.johnson@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: Ken B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Noah D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Syroid
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Drews
authors.forename: L Lazarre
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Ogden
authors.forename: David L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Strayer
authors.forename: Nathan L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Diane L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Tyler
authors.forename: Julia L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: Dwayne R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Westenskow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003479:Curriculum; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods