Concurrent Versus Terminal Feedback: It May Be Better to Wait

• DOI: 10.1097/acm.0b013e3181b38daf
• Publication Date: 2010-01-27T06:11:44Z
• Authors: Catharine M. Walsh; Simon C. Ling; Charlie S. Wang; Heather Carnahan
• Keywords: Transfer of training; Transfer of learning; Feedback regulation

Background Feedback is an important feature of simulation-based education. This study investigated the optimal timing feedback for technical skills learning in novices. Method Thirty novice endoscopists were pretested on a colonoscopy simulator task. Participants then received either during (concurrent) or after (terminal) each their 12 practice trials. Effectiveness training was assessed using immediate posttest and one week later retention transfer tests. Measures included execution time blinded expert assessments. Results Both groups performed similarly pre-, post-, At transfer, terminal group significantly better as measured by time, checklist, global rating scores. The concurrent group's performance decreased test compared with test. Conclusions Not all conditions seem equally effective. use resulted demonstrated superior transfer.