Too Loud to Learn? Communication Barriers, Psychological Safety, and Learning in the Operating Room

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Operating room (OR) communication is vital for effective surgical training.
• Medical students face unique communication challenges in the OR environment.
• Psychological safety is crucial for learning and professional development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate medical students' experiences with communication challenges in the OR.
• To determine the impact of these barriers on students' psychological safety.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, anonymous survey was administered to 83 medical students.
• Participants had completed a surgical clerkship and had OR experience.
• Statistical analysis and thematic analysis of free-text responses were performed.

Main Results:

• 88% of students reported hearing difficulties in the OR.
• Hearing difficulty correlated with lower psychological safety, particularly regarding hierarchy and seeking clarification.
• Over two-thirds of students felt hearing issues impaired learning, confidence, and sense of belonging.

Conclusions:

• Hearing-related communication barriers are prevalent among medical students in the OR.
• These barriers negatively affect psychological safety, learning, and confidence.
• Implementing structural and interpersonal changes is necessary for inclusive surgical education.