Team- and task-related knowledge in shared mental models in operating room teams: A survey study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Teamwork and Communication
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Operating rooms are complex environments requiring effective interprofessional teamwork.
• Communication and teamwork issues can negatively impact patient safety.
• Shared mental models, encompassing task and team knowledge, are crucial for team effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in task- and team-related knowledge among operating room professionals.
• To assess understanding of other professions' roles, training, and perceived colleague traits.
• To map perceived responsibilities for specific tasks within the operating room team.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 106 healthcare professionals from four professions in three Dutch hospitals.
• Team knowledge assessed via understanding of other professions' training/activities and perceived colleague traits.
• Task knowledge assessed by mapping perceived task responsibilities using a Likert scale.

Main Results:

• Professionals generally understood each other's roles and emphasized communication and teamwork.
• Knowledge varied, with anesthesiologists' roles being least understood by other professions.
• Consensus on task responsibilities existed for well-defined tasks, but variation was noted for less defined ones.

Conclusions:

• Operating room team knowledge is generally adequate but shows irregularities, potentially affecting patient care.
• Discrepancies in team and task knowledge exist across different professions.
• Recognizing these knowledge gaps is essential for improving operating room team performance and patient safety.