Spaced Repetition Learning as a Tool for Orthopedic Surgical Education: A Prospective Cohort Study on a Training Examination.
Authors: Anton Lambers, Adrian Talia
Site: Australian Orthopaedic Association Trainees
Here Dr Lambers and his colleague Dr Adrian Talia explore the use of spaced repetition learning (SRL) as a study tool for orthopaedic surgical trainees preparing for an orthopaedic training examination. This method, which uses systematic intervals to reinforce knowledge, was compared to traditional passive study methods like reading or watching lectures. More on the principles of SRL can be found in this separate publication here.
The study included 12 Australian orthopaedic trainees, each provided with 1,400 practice questions in a flashcard format via the Anki app, and participants used Anki over an average of 69 days leading up to the exam.
Their study habits—measured by time spent and the number of flashcards reviewed—were correlated with final exam scores. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between time spent using Anki and higher exam performance. All participants who engaged with the SRL method passed the exam, significantly outperforming the national pass rate of 67%. This research has since been referenced in numerous subsequent studies and this is an exciting area of research in surgical education.
