An evaluation of operating room safety and efficiency: pilot utilization of a structured focus group format and...

The purpose of this investigation was to identify safety and efficiency-related design features for inclusion in operating room (OR) construction documents.

Organizations are confronted with an array of challenges when planning an OR, including inefficiencies in operations, adverse events, and a variety of innovations to choose from. Currently, techniques that can be used in design practice and to inform design decision making for implementable OR solutions are limited.

The project team used a structured focus group format with mixed methods to solicit 19 varying surgical team members' reactions to a three-dimensional video mock-up of a proposed OR. Data from the 19 participants were analyzed using stepwise multiple regression and content analysis of open-ended responses.

Results demonstrate that several features of the proposed OR design predict meaningful outcomes, including flexibility and satisfaction with the OR setup, adverse event prevention, team performance, and distractions and interruptions. Participants' suggested solutions include universal booms to support anesthetic and perfusion capabilities, a fixed circulating nursing workstation that faces the patient and is at the foot of the operating room table, a wall-mounted monitor across from the surgeon, and wiring to support a touch-screen control arm in OR surgical fields.

Findings from structured focus groups with mixed methods lead to implementable design solutions for construction documentation. The expeditious qualities and objectivity of the format are value-adds to the design decision-making process. Future research should use various techniques such as virtual technologies and building information modeling.