Beyond resource management: Reframing surgical preference cards as educational tools

Surgical Preference Cards (SPCs) have traditionally been regarded as tools for standardizing surgical procedures, optimizing resource utilization, and improving operating room efficiency. Consequently, their educational value has received relatively little attention. However, emerging evidence suggests that SPCs can improve clinical performance, self-efficacy, clinical skills, and competence while reducing anxiety among operating room students. Drawing on Cognitive Load Theory and educational scaffolding, we argue that SPCs have the potential to serve as cognitive supports that facilitate learning in the complex operating room environment. We propose that SPCs should be recognized not only as resource management tools but also as educational resources and advocate for their integration into operating room curricula and digital educational repositories.