Certain nontechnical skills, such as coping and communication, may have a direct association with surgeons' technical skills, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.
For their study, researchers relied on data from 28 studies that fit their inclusion criteria. Based on evidence from 21 of those articles, researchers concluded effective communication and coping skills in the OR can be beneficial to technical performance. The articles also seemed to suggest elevated levels of fatigue can contribute to deterioration of surgical skills.
In addition, one article concluded anesthesiologists' nontechnical skills had a "strong positive correlation" with their technical performance. The last six articles determined a strong relationship between teamwork breakdowns and technical error.
For their study, researchers relied on data from 28 studies that fit their inclusion criteria. Based on evidence from 21 of those articles, researchers concluded effective communication and coping skills in the OR can be beneficial to technical performance. The articles also seemed to suggest elevated levels of fatigue can contribute to deterioration of surgical skills.
In addition, one article concluded anesthesiologists' nontechnical skills had a "strong positive correlation" with their technical performance. The last six articles determined a strong relationship between teamwork breakdowns and technical error.
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