title: Validation of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index as a tool to evaluate the learning curve for endoscopy training.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although workplace workload assessments exist in different fields, an endoscopy-specific workload assessment tool is lacking.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To validate such a workload tool and use it to map the progression of novice trainees in gastroenterology in performing their first endoscopies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) workload assessment tool was completed by eight novice trainees in gastroenterology and 10 practicing gastroenterologists⁄surgeons. An exploratory factor analysis was performed to construct a streamlined endoscopy-specific task load index, which was subsequently validated. The 'Endoscopy Task Load Index' was used to monitor progression of trainee exertion and self-assessed performance over their first 40 procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From the factor analysis of the NASA-TLX, two principal components emerged: a measure of exertion and a measure of self-efficacy. These items became the components of the newly validated Endoscopy Task Load Index. There was a steady decline in self-perceived exertion over the training period, which was more rapid for gastroscopy than colonoscopy. The self-efficacy scores for gastroscopy rapidly increased over the first few procedures, reaching a plateau after this period of time. For colonoscopy, there was a progressive increase in reported self-efficacy over the first three quartiles of procedures, followed by a drop in self-efficacy scores over the final quartile.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study validated an Endoscopy Task Load Index that can be completed in <1 min. Practical implications of such a tool in endoscopy education include identifying periods of higher perceived exertion among novice endoscopists, facilitating appropriate levels of guidance from trainers.
authors.forename: Rachid
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohamed
authors.forename: Maitreyi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raman
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
authors.forename: Alaa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rostom
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Coderre
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003113:Colonoscopy / Q000193:education*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005773:Gastroscopy / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D018557:United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration; D016526:Workload