Mental imagery and learning: a qualitative study in orthopaedic trauma surgery

Abstract

Preoperative preparation can be thought of as a socio-material ontology requiring a surgeon to negotiate imaginal, verbal and physical interactions with people, materials and his or her own mental imagery. Actor-network theory is useful for making sense of these interactions and for allowing surgeons to interrogate their own preparative processes. We recommend supervisors to use a form of preoperative plan as a teaching tool and to encourage trainees to develop their own preparatory skills. The ability of a trainee to demonstrate sound preparation is an indicator of readiness to perform a procedure.

In my mind: how situation awareness can facilitate expert performance and foster learning

“…their ability to perceive, understand and predict the environment around them) plays a crucial role . High levels of situation awareness enable experts to forecast future situation events and dynamics, which is exactly what the participants in this study by Ibrahim et al . appear to be describing when they talk about preoperative planning in surgery.…”

“…In this issue, Ibrahim et al . show the substantial role played by planning in orthopaedic trauma surgery and in its learning.…”

“…show the substantial role played by planning in orthopaedic trauma surgery and in its learning. This commentary outlines a cognitive expertise research perspective (in particular, the situation awareness theory of Endsley) that complements these authors’ work to further advance understanding of the challenges faced by surgeons in the operating theatre, as well as to define what constitutes an expert in this situation. This view forms a basis for recommendations on training to: (i) maintain a high level of expertise in professionals, and (ii) help students grow towards their level.…”

“…expertise development in clinical reasoning). Ibrahim and colleagues, however, address specifically challenging, uncommon, or particularly difficult cases in orthopaedic surgery. In such cases, the situation awareness of experts (i.e.…”

“…In particular, most of the participants’ statements presented under the heading of ‘mental imagery’ qualify as representing the highest level of situation awareness in Endsley's model (e.g. ‘…if I'm going to be doing the procedure, I'm looking at it exactly how I would be picturing it at surgery’).…”