ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Educational Time Out (ETO) incorporates intraoperative goal setting, task delineation, and debriefing. ETO has been previously reported to generate positive learning experiences for residents. This study aimed to study the impact of ETO on surgery residents' cognitive load. METHODS: A cross-over study design utilized the ETO arm during the first half of the rotation followed by no ETO for the second half. Surgery residents completed a modified NASA Task Load Index (NASA TLX) questionnaire following each operative case to report their cognitive load. RESULTS: 141 modified NASA TLX questionnaire responses were obtained where ETO occurred in 73 responses and no ETO in 68 responses. Residents reported a higher performance (p = 0.004) and a lower frustration (p = 0.018) component scores when ETO occurred. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified improved cognitive load on the modified NASA TLX instrument with higher performance and lower frustration scores associated with trainees who underwent preoperative goal setting with an ETO using the GUTS method.
