A Network Analysis of Perioperative Communication Patterns

To foster teamwork, improve clinical excellence, and promote a culture of safety, perioperative leaders should have a clear understanding of the dynamics that affect clinician communication in the OR. We used social network analysis to characterize the typical OR clinician communication patterns at a military surgery center and determine how clinician relationships influenced individual behavior. We surveyed 50 surgical teams and used the data to develop six relational networks and a clinician communication effectiveness index. The study results showed that communication effectiveness increased in networks in which clinicians reported interacting frequently, having close working relationships, socializing, and seeking advice and providing advice to others. Increases in individual clinician centrality were associated with increased communication effectiveness. Participants rated anesthesia professionals as the most effective communicators, followed by perioperative nurses, surgeons, and surgical technologists. Perioperative leaders should consider surgical team familiarity as a potential option to optimize surgical care and improve communication effectiveness.