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Practical application of hierarchical task analysis and cognitive work analysis in a surgical training system design

Praktische Anwendung der hierarchischen Aufgabenanalyse und der kognitiven Arbeitsanalyse in einem chirurgischen Trainingssystem Design

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Abstract

Hierarchical task analysis (HTA) and cognitive work analysis (CWA) were applied to laparoscopic surgery to identify critical technical, cognitive, and social challenges. Our purpose was to understand the complexity of laparoscopy and use this knowledge to develop a surgical training system. Five laparoscopic procedures were analyzed using the HTA methodology, while generic laparoscopic approaches were analyzed by applying the five phases of the CWA framework. The results from these analyses were applied to a surgical training system. The focus was on the application of partial-task training to areas that could be more technically challenging. Additionally, practical, social, and cognitive training aspects were included into the training system, based on our findings from the analyses.

Practical Relevance: The use of digital training systems is becoming increasingly important in complex work systems, especially when it comes to simulations that can have serious consequences in reality. This paper presents the development of a surgical training system.

Zusammenfassung

Die hierarchische Aufgabenanalyse (HTA) und die kognitive Arbeitsanalyse (CWA) wurden in der laparoskopischen Chirurgie angewendet, um kritische technische, kognitive und soziale Herausforderungen zu identifizieren. Unser Ziel war es, die Komplexität der Laparoskopie zu verstehen und dieses Wissen für die Entwicklung eines chirurgischen Trainingssystems zu nutzen. Fünf laparoskopische Verfahren wurden mit der HTA-Methode analysiert, während generische laparoskopische Verfahren mit Hilfe der fünf Phasen des CWA-Rahmens analysiert wurden. Die Ergebnisse dieser Analysen wurden auf ein chirurgisches Trainingssystem übertragen. Der Schwerpunkt lag auf der Anwendung von Teilaufgabenschulungen auf Bereiche, die technisch anspruchsvoller sein könnten. Darüber hinaus wurden praktische, soziale und kognitive Trainingsaspekte in das Trainingssystem aufgenommen, basierend auf unseren Erkenntnissen aus den Analysen.

Praktische Relevanz: Der Einsatz digitaler Übungssysteme erhält in komplexen Arbeitssystemen immer größere Bedeutung, vor allem, wenn es um Simulationen geht, die in der Realität gravierende Folgen mit sich bringen können. Dieser Beitrag stellt die Entwicklung eines chrirurgischen Trainingssystems dar.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rehabilitation Engineering Laboratory, Department Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zürich, Lengghalde 5, 8092, Zürich, Switzerland

    Carolyn Mattes-O’Brien M.Sc.

  2. VirtaMed AG, Schlieren, Switzerland

    Carolyn Mattes-O’Brien M.Sc.

  3. Human Factors Engineering, Chair of Consumer Behavior, ETH Zurich, Scheuchzerstrasse 7, Zürich, 8092, Switzerland

    Marino Menozzi

Authors
  1. Carolyn Mattes-O’Brien M.Sc.
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  2. Marino Menozzi
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Correspondence to Carolyn Mattes-O’Brien M.Sc..

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Conflict of interest

C. Mattes-O’Brien reports personal fees from VirtaMed AG outside of the submitted work; in addition, Mrs. Mattes-O’Brien has a patent US9424761B2 issued, and patents US20170110032A and US20180055570A1 pending. M. Menozzi declares that he has no competing interests.

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Mattes-O’Brien, C., Menozzi, M. Practical application of hierarchical task analysis and cognitive work analysis in a surgical training system design. Z. Arb. Wiss. 73, 337–349 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41449-019-00160-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41449-019-00160-3

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