Communication and relationship dynamics in surgical teams in the operating room: an ethnographic study

• DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4362-0
• Publication Date: 2019-07-29T13:03:03Z
• Authors: Birgitte Tørring; Jody Hoffer Gittell; Mogens Laursen; Bodil Steen Rasmu...; Erik Elgaard Søre...
• Keywords: Health administration; Surgical team

In surgical teams, health professionals are highly interdependent and work under time pressure. It is of particular importance that teamwork well-functioning in order to achieve quality treatment patient safety. Relational coordination, defined as "communicating relating for the purpose task integration," has been found contribute coordination also psychological safety ability learn from mistakes. Although extensive research carried out regarding relational many contexts including surgery, no study explored how works at micro level. The this was explore communication relationship dynamics interdisciplinary teams level variable complexity using theory coordination. An ethnographic conducted involving participant observations 39 15 semi-structured interviews during a 10-month period 2014 2 orthopedic operating units university hospital Denmark. A deductively directed content analysis based on Four different types collaboration were identified representing patterns: 1) proactive intuitive communication, 2) silent ordinary 3) inattentive ambiguous 4) contradictory dynamic communication. findings suggest connection between procedures performed. complement previous offer new typology goes beyond weak or strong capture four distinct patterns particular, highlights central role mutual respect presents proposals improving teams.