Despite widespread use of surgical safety checklists (SSC), its success in improving patient outcomes remains inconsistent, potentially due to variations in implementation and completion methods. This systematic review sought to identify how many studies describe the ways in which the SSC was implemented and completed, and the impact on provider outcomes, patient outcomes, and moderating factors. A clearer positive relationship was seen for provider outcomes (e.g., communication) than for patient outcomes (e.g., mortality).

Gender bias has been implicated in negatively affecting patient safety. The authors conducted semi-structured interviews to explore how gender and other social identify factors impact experiences and teamwork in the operating room. Researchers found that women being routinely challenged or ignored or perceived negatively when assertive may hinder their pursuit of leadership positions or certain specialties. Implicit gender bias and stereotypes along with deeply entrenched structural barriers persist and complicate hierarchical relations between professions – all contributing to breakdowns in communication, increased patient safety risks, and poor team morale.  

… increases the risk of an adverse event by 40%. … Boet S, Djokhdem H, Leir SA, et al. Association of …

This qualitative study sought to identify barriers and enablers influencing stakeholder support of the Operating Room (OR) Black Box, an audio-video recording device similar to that used on airplanes. Stakeholders were mostly supportive of the OR Black Box, but several potential barriers were identified, such as time pressures in the OR and perceptions that the Black Box may negatively impact clinical performance. Authors concluded that the OR Black Box must be positioned as a patient safety initiative to improve practice.

Interdisciplinary teamwork is critically important in labor and delivery for anesthesiologists, obstetricians, midwives, and nurses to provide optimal care. This systematic review of interventions designed to improve teamwork found that simulation-based teamwork interventions can improve team performance and morbidity in the labor and delivery setting. 

Teamwork training enhances health care team performance, especially in crisis situations. This systematic review identified 13 tools for assessing teamwork in high-stress settings, most of which were designed for the emergency department. A past PSNet perspective explored insights learned from experience with the AHRQ-supported teamwork training program, TeamSTEPPS.

This systematic review found that simulation training based on crew resource management principles appeared to be more effective than didactic teaching at improving multidisciplinary teamwork behaviors in patient care situations. The authors suggest that further research focus on transferring learning to workplace practice and its impact on patient outcomes.