title: "Surgery interrupted": The effect of multitasking on cognitive and technical tasks in medical students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Today's medical learners are Millennials, and reportedly, multitasking pros. We aim to evaluate effect of multitasking on cognitive and technical skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  16 medical students completed a mock page and laceration closure separately on day 1 and day 13, and in parallel on day 14. Suturing was graded using GRS and mock pages scored. Total time, suturing and loading times, and percent correct on mock page were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Percent correct on mock page improved from days 1-13 and 14 (p < 0.01 and 0.04). GRS improved from days 1-13 and 14 (p = 0.04 and <0.01). Total time suturing was similar on all days. However, time suturing during the mock page on day 14 was prolonged compared to before mock page (p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medical students can complete cognitive and technical tasks in parallel, without compromising acceptability. However, multitasking results in longer times to complete the complex component of the technical task.
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Omaha, NE, USA. Electronic address: charity.evans@unmc.edu.
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Medicine, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shostrom
authors.affiliation: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Acute Care Surgery, Omaha, NE, USA.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Schenarts
mesh_terms: D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition; D006801:Humans; D022125:Lacerations / Q000601:surgery*; D000066908:Simulation Training; D013337:Students, Medical; D013537:Sutures; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D013689:Telephone; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Distraction; Medical students; Mock pages; Multitasking; Surgical skills