title: Do not teach me while I am working!
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine if technical surgical experience enhances the learning of new cognitive information under multitasking conditions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Junior (years 1-3) and experienced (years 4 and 5) general surgery residents performed a Nissen fundoplication on a synthetic model (the primary task). While performing the primary task, they listened to and memorized information describing the steps of a computer-assisted hip replacement surgery (the secondary task). Performance on the primary and secondary tasks was assessed using performance metrics and multiple-choice questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The primary task was performed better by the senior than the junior trainees (P = .001, P = .007). The senior trainees also scored higher on the secondary task than the junior trainees (P = .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Senior trainees have superior capacity to multitask. This may have direct implications on both clinical and simulation-based education, such that educators need to adjust the amount of information presented in accordance to trainees' levels of training.
authors.affiliation: SickKids Learning and Research Institutes, Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, ON, Canada. adam.dubrowski@sickkids.ca
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubrowski
authors.forename: Ryan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brydges
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Satterthwaite
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Xeroulis
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Classen
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000193:education; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D018662:Fundoplication / Q000193:education; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D007858:Learning; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis