Development of trauma team cognition can be explained by "split vision": A grounded theory study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Medical Sociology
• Emergency Medicine

Background:

• Effective interprofessional teamwork is crucial in high-stakes environments like trauma resuscitation.
• Understanding team cognition dynamics can improve patient outcomes and care delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the interaction dynamics within interprofessional hospital trauma teams.
• To develop a theory explaining how team cognition evolves during patient resuscitation.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory methodology was employed to develop a substantive theory.
• Analysis of video recordings from seven in-real-life trauma resuscitations in an emergency department.
• Theoretical sampling guided data collection and analysis.

Main Results:

• A theory of team cognition as a dynamical process was generated.
• Trauma teams alternate between "team positioning" and "sensitivity to the patient" modes.
• The core category "working with split vision" describes the interplay between these modes for adaptive coordination.

Conclusions:

• "Split vision" enables teams to integrate situational awareness with patient-centered sensitivity.
• This cognitive strategy allows for continuous adaptation of team positioning and enhances precision in patient care.
• Team cognition is a dynamic process influenced by culture, knowledge, empathy, and patient needs.