The importance of non-technical skills in modern surgical practice

Abstract

The significance of technical skills and manual dexterity for surgeons is an indisputable fact. However, the systematic study of medical errors has revealed that a significant percentage of these errors are caused by factors related to non-technical skills. The review presented in this article intends to describe and explore the relevance of these non-technical skills, including: situational awareness, decision-making, leadership and communication. In conclusion, the authors propose that adequate importance needs to be given to these aptitudes to provide safe clinical care.

Keywords: Cirugía; Factores humanos; Habilidades no-quirúrgicas; Human factors; Non-technical skills; Patient safety; Seguridad del paciente; Surgery.