Conflict resolution in anaesthesia: systematic review

Conflict is a significant and recurrent problem in most modern healthcare systems. Given its ubiquity, effective techniques to manage or resolve conflict safely are required.

This review focuses on conflict resolution interventions for improvement of patient safety through understanding and applying/teaching conflict resolution skills that critically depend on communication and improvement of staff members' ability to voice their concerns.

We used the Population-Intervention-Comparator-Outcome model to outline our methodology. Relevant English language sources for both published and unpublished papers up to February 2018 were sourced across five electronic databases: the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Web of Science.

After removal of duplicates, 1485 studies were screened. Six articles met the inclusion criteria with a total sample size of 286 healthcare worker participants. Three training programmes were identified among the included studies: (A) crisis resource management training; (B) the Team Strategies and Tools to Enhance Performance and Patient Safety (TeamSTEPPS) training; and (C) the two-challenge rule (a component of TeamSTEPPS), and two studies manipulating wider team behaviours. Outcomes reported included participant reaction and observer rating of conflict resolution, speaking up or advocacy-inquiry behaviours. Study results were inconsistent in showing benefits of interventions.

The evidence for training to improve conflict resolution in the clinical environment is sparse. Novel methods that seek to influence wider team behaviours may complement traditional interventions directed at individuals.