Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Medical Learners and Physicians and a Potentially Helpful Educational Tool

Advances in Medical Education and Practice (04/26/23) Vol. 2023, P. 435 Im, David S.; Tamarelli, Carrie M.

In this article, researchers characterize the incidence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) among medical learners and physicians, presenting a potentially helpful educational tool for absorbing information from scientific articles. Reading and application of knowledge contained in articles is essential, particularly for practicing physicians in connection with continuing medical education, self-assessment, and cognitive component mandates for board recertification stipulated by the American Board of Medical Specialties. However, article length, third-person format, jargon, and small font can challenge information absorption by medical learners and physicians with ADHD. The authors describe their educational tool as "a 5-minute recorded video summary [5MVS] in which an engaging speaker presents the relevant information from a scientific article using a brief PowerPoint presentation shared using videoconferencing technology." The tool limits the use of slides, while underlining, boldface, and graphics are utilized when possible to highlight key points. The researchers also note the use of regular eye contact, facial affect, variable vocal tone, and periodic commentaries "to de-monotonize verbally expressed material." The 5MVS deliberately uses these multimodal elements to capture and hold the attention of learners and physicians with ADHD. "Residency training programs and medical institutions could provide training of interested providers (perhaps residents and faculty with a passion for teaching) in the construction and implementation of the 5MVSs," the researchers suggest. They also recommend future research on the tool's perceived effectiveness among its target audience compared with standard approaches for reading scientific articles.

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