"Disruptive behavior" in the operating room: A prospective observational study of triggers and effects of tense communication episodes in surgical teams.
Keller S, Tschan F, Semmer NK, et al. “Disruptive behavior” in the operating room: A prospective observational study of triggers and effects of tense communication episodes in surgical teams. PLoS One. 2019;14(12). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0226437.
In this prospective study, trained observers assessed communication and triggers of tense communication during elective abdominal operations led by 30 different surgeons. Observers identified an average of 1.21 tense episodes per hour. Situational aspects accounted for a majority of tense communications, triggered primarily by coordination and task-related problems. More tension was associated with lower perceived teamwork quality for all team members except the primary surgeons.