A Surgical Team Simulation to Improve Teamwork and Communication across Two Continents: ViSIOT Proof-of-Concept Study

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Safety
• Team Communication

Background:

• Operating room (OR) team communication challenges globally impact patient safety.
• Existing interventions like the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist have not fully resolved these issues.
• Video-based social science methods informed the development of a novel simulation training model.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the applicability and acceptability of the Video-Supported Simulation of Interactions in the Operating Theatre (ViSIOT) training model in the USA.
• To evaluate the potential of ViSIOT for improving OR team communication beyond the UK.

Main Methods:

• ViSIOT training was delivered at simulation centers in the UK and USA.
• Participants completed questionnaires assessing design, education, satisfaction, and self-confidence.
• Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, while qualitative data underwent thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Participants showed strong agreement regarding their perception of the training course.
• Nine themes were identified from qualitative data, with most shared between the UK and USA.
• Some themes were unique to each country, indicating cultural or contextual variations.

Conclusions:

• The study identified practical areas for course design, technology, and recruitment improvements.
• The training's applicability in the USA confirms the global necessity for OR team communication enhancement.
• Further research is needed to validate ViSIOT's effectiveness in improving actual OR communication practices.