Bringing the patient voice into the operating room

This article discusses the importance of patient engagement in surgical safety research, highlighting a partnership that uses the OR Black Box® to enhance patient safety through analysis of human factors. The authors emphasize that despite surgery being a common patient experience, efforts to involve patients in surgical safety research have lagged behind other healthcare fields. This is particularly crucial given that patients are typically under anesthesia during procedures, limiting their ability to advocate for themselves.

The research program described in the article implemented a series of planned activities and skill development opportunities to build capacity and bring together patients, clinicians, and researchers. Patient advisors were involved in various aspects of the project, including influencing activities, co-developing communication materials, evaluating engagement practices, and disseminating research results. Evaluation surveys conducted during the first year indicated positive experiences for both patient partners and the research team. The authors propose that their approach could serve as a model for patient engagement in surgical safety research, potentially leading to improved quality of care and outcomes for surgical patients.