Operating theatres are very private workplaces. There have been few research investigations into how highly trained doctors and nurses work together to achieve safe and efficient anaesthesia and surgery. While there have been major advances in surgical and anaesthetic procedures, there are still significant risks for patients during operations and adverse events are not unknown. Due to rising concern about patient safety, surgeons and anaesthetists have looked for ways of minimising adverse events. Behavioural scientists have been encouraged by clinicians to bring research techniques used in other industries into the operating theatre in order to study the behaviour of surgeons, nurses and anaesthetists. Safer Surgery presents one of the first collections of studies designed to understand the factors influencing safe and efficient surgical, anaesthetic and nursing practice. The book is written by psychologists, surgeons and anaesthetists, whose contributions combine to offer readers the latest research techniques and findings from some of the leading investigators in this field. It is designed for practitioners and researchers interested in understanding the behaviour of operating theatre team members, with a view to enhancing both training and practice. The material is also suitable for those studying behaviour in other areas of healthcare or in high-risk work settings. The aims of the book are to: a) present the latest research on the behaviour of operating theatre teams b) describe the techniques being used by psychologists and clinicians to study surgeons, anaesthetists and theatre nurses'' task performance c) outline the safety implications of the research to date.
Industry Reviews
'This excellent and original book is clearly targeted at its intended audience.' HIGHLY COMMENDED in the Surgery Category of the 2010 BMA Book Awards. 'The expectation of improved performance in the operating room by the public, healthcare managers and funders leads to a need to understand and measure performance of surgical teams. This book provides an up-to-date overview of surgical performance research from across the globe. The use of this work to assess both non-technical and technical skills of operating teams will undoubtedly drive changes beneficial to patients.' Bruce Barraclough, President, International Society for Quality in Health Care 'It is increasingly recognised that adverse events in the operating theatre arise from poor teamwork and poor communications, or deficiencies in our systems. It is also acknowledged that modern day surgery is increasingly complex and beyond the gift of any one professional or professional group to deliver and assure. The delivery of safer surgery depends on high performing teams who understand and recognise the interdependencies of their roles and contribution. This fascinating text, edited by Flin and Mitchell, brings together the work of leading researchers from medicine, psychology and safety critical industries, to expose the culture, professional hierarchies and behaviours endemic to our operating theatres. In this unique collection, each chapter highlights behavioural studies and educational approaches to develop professionals' non-technical skills and enhance safety in the theatre environment. Human error and systems failure contribute to "never" events and what we know to be avoidable harm; this text makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of what must change in our health systems and how we prepare future professionals to improve surgical safety.' Jane Reid, President, International Federation of Perioperative Nurses, UK 'Despite a traditional focus heavily directed toward technical expertise, surgeons are increasingly aware of the impact of non-operative factors on patient outcomes. This book helps open the door to a field of study new to physicians; a body of knowledge critical to our development of the non-technical skills necessary for surgical success in an increasingly complex medical environment.' Thoralf M. Sundt, M.D., Mayo Clinic, USA 'Authored by the "who's who" of social science researchers and clinicians, this book is all about the a, b and c's of the operating theatre: actions, behaviours and cultures - what they are, how to study them, and how to make them safer for surgical patients.' J M Davies, Professor of Anesthesia, University of Calgary Foothills Medical Centre, Canada 'It deserves a wide readership, not only because of the quality of information is so high but also because, although the subject matter is extremely complex, the text is very well written.' The RoSPA Occupational Safety & Health Journal August 2010 ' At a time when the World Health Organization is concentrating on patient safety in the perioperative setting and promoting its surgical safety checklist, this book could not be more appropriate. It will enable members of theatre teams to analyse their behaviour and adapt it to ensure better patient outcomes.' Nursing Standard, Vol 24, no 51, 2010 'In summary, Safer Surgery is a comprehensive and up-to-date book on non-technical skills and performance in the OT. Researchers will get the most out of it. Nevertheless, practitioners who want to achieve safer surgery can benefit from papers describing processes and outcomes of interventions, from the instruments provided in this book, and from empirical results showing the influence of non-technical skills and external factors on performance in the operating theatre.' HFES European Chapter Newsletter Sept 2010 'So, who should read this book? Those who are interested in applying human factors to the operating theatre most definitely should; they will find it an extremely valuable resource of ideas, findings and references.' Ergonomics Review 2012 'What I really like is that the book is specific to operating theatres, and as an ODP you do get a sense that the 27 chapters relate to your field of expertise. This makes it extremely easy to read...I highly recommend this book to all safety-conscious, forward-thinking perioperative professional groups.' Technic: The Journal of Operating Department Practice January 2013 Volume 4 Issue 1
