Trainee perception of cognitive load during observed faculty staff teaching of procedural skills

Although teachers impact learners' cognitive load, how specific teaching activities affect intrinsic, germane and extraneous load during procedural skills training is unknown. We sought to characterise teaching activities used in the exemplar procedural setting of colonoscopy, and to explore how they were enacted and how learners perceived them as affecting intrinsic, germane and extraneous cognitive load.

We observed 10 colonoscopies performed by eight different gastroenterology fellows and supervised by 10 different attending physicians at two hospitals, and recorded the teaching activities observed, as well as details of when they were used and how they were enacted. After the colonoscopy, each fellow completed the Cognitive Load Inventory for Colonoscopy to quantify intrinsic, germane and extraneous load. We then interviewed each fellow to determine how he or she perceived teaching as affecting cognitive load. Qualitative data were subjected to content analysis. Instances of germane load-promoting activities were correlated with measured germane load.

We observed 515 instances of teaching activities. The intensity of teaching varied substantially, ranging from 0.7 to 3.3 activities per minute, as did the pattern of teaching activities used by different attending physicians. Little teaching occurred immediately before or after a procedure. Fellows usually perceived teaching as affecting cognitive load in ways that promoted learning, particularly by reducing intrinsic load and increasing germane load. Fellows strongly perceived that the provision of autonomy promoted germane load. Conversely, fellows perceived that excessive teaching increased extraneous load. Instances of germane load-promoting teaching activities correlated moderately with measured germane load.

Teaching in the exemplar procedural setting of colonoscopy affected learners' cognitive load in mostly beneficial ways, yet even 'good' teaching activities had detrimental effects when used excessively. Teachers of procedures should consider learner experience, task complexity and environmental factors to modulate the modality, content and intensity of teaching to promote balanced cognitive load and learning. Teaching more reservedly during the procedure and taking advantage of pre- and post-procedure opportunities may help.