What started as a fun game at our Clinical Research Solutions stand turned into a fascinating exploration of psychology!
As sponsors at the Portsmouth Colorectal Congress, we anticipated that our T-shirt prize would be popular. However, we underestimated just how addictive the game would become and how competitive the delegates would be, both with each other and in trying to beat their own times.
The aim of the game was simple: complete the journey along the wire without setting off the buzzer, and do it in the fastest time. We were joined by medical students, trainees, and consultant surgeons, some of whom are masters in their field of laparoscopic and robotic surgery.
If I had made a hypothesis, I would have guessed that the more highly trained and skilled the surgeon, the more likely they would be to succeed at this game. But I was wrong!
Some participants calmly and slowly made their way around without a competitive streak. Others moved quickly, and when the buzzer went off, they reacted calmly. For some, the pressure and adrenaline were palpable each time the buzzer sounded, making them jump. And some… well, some just got angry when they couldn’t achieve their goal! Some persisted, others gave up. The top of the leaderboard featured two very different personalities, both equally determined and gritty, but differing in how they outwardly appeared to cope under pressure.
So, does being a good surgeon give you a steady hand and make you good at the buzzer game? It would seem not! Does determination give you the staying power to practice the same skill repeatedly and master it? Definitely! Does your ability to remain calm when adrenaline is rushing give you the edge in a high-pressure environment? Absolutely!
So, what did I learn? Firstly, there’s a reason why we do research and test the hypotheses we believe to be true! More importantly, the complexity of surgery obviously entails far more than a steady hand. This game provided insight into the determination, calm mind under pressure, and competitive spirit that drives individuals to the top.
And I can tell you, there are some absolutely amazing young minds who will become tomorrow’s lifesaving surgeons!
