Efficiency of Task Switching and Multi-tasking

NCT03685266 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2015-107
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 18
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will collect observational data on how well pediatric residents handle interruptions to their daily workflow. Residents will be directly observed during their work day and behaviors will be recorded using an electronic tool that will time-stamp their actions when faced with an interruption. The average time it takes for them to return to their original task(s) after faced with an interruption will be calculated, along with correlations made between their predicted multi-tasking ability, year of training, and additional factors.

Conditions

Task Performance and Analysis; Efficiency

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• MTAT score predicting residents who take the least time to return to an original task after an interrupting task

  Hypothesis: A lower, more efficient MTAT score will predict the most efficient residents, as defined by taking the least amount of time to manage interruptions as directly observed and recorded through a time-motion tool.

  Through study completion, up to 1 year

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Time to return to task after interruption

  Through study completion, up to 1 year

• Self-assigned level of personal wellness affects task-switching efficiency

  Through study completion, up to 1 year

Other Outcomes (1)

• Self-reported hours of sleep affects task-switching efficiency

  Through study completion, up to 1 year

Study Arms (1)

Pediatric Residents

Participating pediatric residents from first postgraduate year (PGY-1) through third postgraduate year (PGY-3) will be observed over a 12 month timeframe.

Other: Observation

Interventions

Observation OTHER

There are no specific interventions in this study; it is observational only. One could argue that the act of observing the participants may change their behavior (the Hawthorne effect).

Pediatric Residents

Eligibility Criteria

• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All pediatric residents at the University of Hawai'i Pediatric Residency Program will be recruited as potential participants.

You may qualify if:

• Consenting pediatric residents

You may not qualify if:

• Non-consenting pediatric residents

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Hawaii: lead

Study Sites (1)

Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children

Honolulu, Hawaii, 96826, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Carraccio C, Benson B, Burke A, Englander R, Guralnick S, Hicks P, Ludwig S, Schumacher D, Vasilias J. Pediatrics milestones. J Grad Med Educ. 2013 Mar;5(1 Suppl 1):59-73. doi: 10.4300/JGME-05-01s1-06. No abstract available.

  PMID: 24404214 BACKGROUND

Related Links

• Background and information about the Multitasking Assessment Tool (MTAT)

MeSH Terms

Interventions

Observation

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Methods; Investigative Techniques

Study Officials

• Jennifer R Di Rocco, DO

  University of Hawai'i

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE ONLY
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 17, 2016
• First Posted: September 26, 2018
• Study Start: May 1, 2016
• Primary Completion: March 1, 2017
• Study Completion: March 1, 2017
• Last Updated: September 26, 2018

Record last verified: 2018-09

Locations

US (1)