Editorial Commentary: Repetition Is the Key to Adult Learning. However, Spaced Repetition Is the Key to Adult Surgical Skill Retention.

Abstract

"Repetition is the key to adult learning" is a critical aphorism that underpins many aspects of surgical training. However, the aphorism is silent on a potentially key aspect of surgical skill acquisition: spacing. Many students have the experience of cramming for a final examination, only to have forgotten the material the next week. This common knowledge acquisition experience likely has parallels in surgical skill acquisition as well. Spacing of practice sessions of the target skill can be modified to optimize long-term retention of the skill. Optimal spacing may be on the order of days, not hours. This finding potentially has important implications for the design of surgical training programs and workshops.