Intraoperative teamwork and occupational stress during robot-assisted surgery: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Surgical Innovation
• Occupational Health
• Human Factors Engineering

Background:

• Robot-assisted surgery (RAS) introduces novel technological and communication dynamics compared to traditional operating rooms.
• These differences may influence the stress levels and mental workload experienced by surgical teams.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for optimizing the surgical environment and staff well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the impact of intraoperative job demands and resources on mental workload and perceived stress in robot-assisted surgery.
• To specifically examine the role of intraoperative teamwork as a potential resource for mitigating occupational stress in RAS.
• To differentiate the effects of teamwork on stress versus mental workload.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach combining expert observations in the operating room with post-operative self-report surveys.
• Data collected from 73 robot-assisted urological surgeries.
• Surveys administered to 242 surgeons and surgical nurses assessing perceived stress and mental workload.

Main Results:

• Multilevel regression analyses indicated that enhanced surgical teamwork was significantly associated with reduced perceived stress.
• However, the association between surgical teamwork and mental workload was not statistically significant.
• Findings suggest a nuanced relationship between teamwork, stress, and workload in the context of RAS.

Conclusions:

• Intraoperative teamwork is a critical resource that can effectively reduce perceived stress for surgical staff in robot-assisted procedures.
• The benefits of improved teamwork in RAS appear more pronounced for stress reduction than for managing mental workload.
• These insights are vital for developing targeted interventions to support surgical teams operating with advanced robotic technology.