From Theory to Practice: The Application of Cognitive Load Theory to the Practice of Medicine
Open accessAbstract
Cognitive load theory has become a leading model in educational psychology and has started to gain traction in the medical education community over the last decade. The theory is rooted in our current understanding of human cognitive architecture in which an individual’s limited working memory and unlimited long-term memory interact during the process of learning. Though initially described as primarily a theory of learning, parallels between cognitive load theory and broader aspects of medical education as well as clinical practice are now becoming clear. These parallels are particularly relevant and evident in complex clinical environments, like resuscitation medicine. The authors have built on these connections to develop a recontextualized version of cognitive load theory that applies to complex professional domains and in which the connections between the theory and clinical practice are made explicit, with resuscitation medicine as a case study. Implications of the new model for medical education are also presented along with suggested applications.
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Higher-quality, context-relevant data enables physicians to focus on diagnostically meaningful cues and filter out noise.
“This aligns with prior evidence suggesting that higher-quality, context-relevant data enables physicians to focus on diagnostically meaningful cues and filter out noise38.”
From When better data meets better design: How EHR data usability and system usability shape physicians' cognitive load (2026) · cites this paper as [38]
Cognitive load must be managed for effective problem-solving and clinical decision-making, as levels of cognitive load influence decisions and outcomes.
“Cognitive load must be managed for effective problem-solving and clinical decision-making (correct decisions/reduction of errors), as levels of cognitive load influence decisions and outcomes38,49–53.”
From When better data meets better design: How EHR data usability and system usability shape physicians' cognitive load (2026) · cites this paper as [38]
Unnecessary factors such as distractions complicate use situations and raise cognitive load.
“Unnecessary factors (such as distractions) complicate use situations and raise cognitive load38.”
From When better data meets better design: How EHR data usability and system usability shape physicians' cognitive load (2026) · cites this paper as [38]
Increased focus lessens the perception of information overload, promotes attention economics, and helps physicians concentrate on specific environmental cues.
“Increased focus lessens the perception of information overload, promotes attention economics, and helps physicians concentrate on specific environmental cues38.”
From When better data meets better design: How EHR data usability and system usability shape physicians' cognitive load (2026) · cites this paper as [38]
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- Authors
- Szulewski, A., Howes, D., van Merriënboer, J. J. G., & Sweller, J.
- Affiliations
- Queen's University (CA)
- J.J.G. van Merriënboeris professor, School of Health Professions Education, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, the Netherlands.
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Szulewski, Adam
- Venue
- Academic Medicine
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2020-12-29
- Volume
- 96
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 24-30
- ISSN
- 1040-2446 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W3029841721
- Cited by
- 171
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 35 · 2024: 27 · 2023: 32 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 3
- FWCI
- 12.19
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Academic Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Research Publications (Maastricht University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Innovations in Medical Education
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Visual and Cognitive Learning Processes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Clinical Reasoning and Diagnostic Skills
- Keywords
- cognitive load theory, medical education, clinical practice, working memory, long-term memory, resuscitation medicine, clinical decision-making
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Attitude of Health Personnel, Cognition, Delivery of Health Care, Education, Medical, Female, Humans, Learning, Male, Memory, Physicians, Students, Medical, Models, Educational, Young Adult
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