Alphonsus Chong's Personal Wiki

Source: Stefanidis D, Scerbo MW, Korndorffer JR, Scott DJ. Redefining simulator proficiency using automaticity theory. Am J Surg.2007;193(4):502–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2006.11.010

Automaticity is a characteristic of expertise defined by the ability to perform a task without significant demands on attention

Is this concept of automaticity synonymous with autonomy?

1. Stefanidis suggests use of a secondary visual-spatial task can differentiate experts/trained individuals/novices.
2. primary FLS task: 300s suture tying
3. secondary counting squares: look for 4×4 white square
4. expert/trained - better primary scores vs novice
5. expert - similar primary scores but better secondary scores vs trained.
6. secondary tasks assesses “spare attentional capacity” –> consider cognitive load concept
7. for simplified surgical simulation tasks, it may be difficult to identify the “true expert”

One important characteristic that distinguishes between experts and novices is how they use attentional resources. Experts can often perform multiple tasks simultaneously with little or no performance decrement.

Select an appropriate secondary task: selective, sensitive, unobtrusive

Benefits?

Problems/ limitations?