Association for Surgical Education“Surgery interrupted”: The effect of multitasking on cognitive and technical tasks in medical students

- In the current age of technology, distractions are unavoidable.
- Multitasking is a real skill for surgeons to master.
- We aim to evaluate the effect of multitasking on cognitive and technical skills.
- Learners can accurately complete a cognitive task while executing a technical skill.
- However, multitasking results in longer times to complete the technical task.

IntroductionToday's medical learners are Millennials, and reportedly, multitasking pros. We aim to evaluate effect of multitasking on cognitive and technical skills.Materials and methods16 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.ResultsPercent 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).ConclusionsMedical 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.