The Surgical Teams' Perception of the Effects of a Routine Intraoperative Pause

Abstract

Background: A pause routine may reduce stress and errors during surgery. The aim of this study was to explore how the team, divided into the different professional groups, perceived the implementation of a pause routine and its possible impact on safety.

Methods: A pause routine was introduced at a University hospital operating theatre in Sweden in 2013. Questionnaires were distributed about 1 year later to all members of the operating theatre team. The questions included different perspectives of possible effects of the pause routine.

Results: A majority were positive to scheduled pauses. The surgeons often felt refreshed and at times changed their view on both anatomy and their surgical strategy. They were also perceived by other team members as improved regarding communication. All groups felt that patient safety was promoted. There were differences by profession in perception of team communication.

Conclusions: The pause routine was well perceived by the surgical team. A majority believed that scheduled and regular pauses contribute to improved patient safety and better team communication. There were also findings of differences in communication and experience of team coherence between personnel categories that could benefit from further acknowledgement and exploration.

Fig. 1

Flowchart on distributed questionnaires. Note that the surgeons were all consultants at the colorectal surgery section of the department of surgery and thus involved in major surgery. The nurses of the department of anaesthesiology and operation also work towards other surgical departments with other types of surgery

Fig. 2

Team Work. Answers in percentages by professional category to the question “Do you perceive that the team work is better after a pause?”

Fig. 3

Alert after pause. Answers in percentages by professional category to the question “Do you perceive that you/the surgeon is more alert after a pause?”

Fig. 4

The surgical strategy. Answers in percentages by professional category to the question to surgeons “Has a pause made you change surgical strategy” and to staff “Do you perceive that taking of a pause has made surgeons change surgical strategy?”