Measurement and Management of Cognitive Load in Surgical Education: A Narrative Review

Cognitive load should be considered in designing optimal educational programs in health care. Despite the highly demanding nature of surgery and surgical education, a consensus on how to manage cognitive load has not been established. The objective of this review is to map out how recent surgical education research incorporates cognitive load.

A literature search was performed using keywords related to cognitive load and digital education up to December 2021. Studies published in English relevant to assessment and management of cognitive load in surgical education were included. Terminology, assessment tools, association with different surgical procedures and training modalities, and programs considering cognitive load were reported.

We identified several terms to describe cognitive load. Cognitive load was measured by subjective, self-reported questionnaires and by objective measurements, such as physiological parameters or estimated by reaction time to secondary tasks. Subjective measurements reported cognitive load in one or multiple dimensions. Correlations between subjective and objective measurements were shown in multiple studies. Overall, higher cognitive load was observed in training for more complex tasks and high-fidelity modalities, and among less experienced trainees. Cognitive load theory has been lately incorporated into designing teaching programs.

A broad range of terms and assessment tools were identified for cognitive load. To maximize the learning outcome, management of cognitive load is necessary in surgical education. This review summarizes the current knowledge in assessment and management of cognitive load in surgical education and provides suggestions for future studies.