Interprofessional communication in the operating room

This narrative review emphasizes the critical role of interprofessional communication in ensuring surgical patient safety, highlighting the communication failures that often lead to adverse events in the operating room. It identifies various barriers and facilitators to effective communication, noting that while many challenges exist at individual, team, environmental, and organizational levels, factors supporting good communication—such as team integration and flattened hierarchies—are less documented. The review suggests practical strategies for enhancing communication quality, including the use of checklists, safety briefings, and closed-loop communication, which may be the most cost-effective approach.

To improve patient safety, the review advocates for the implementation of existing communication solutions while also encouraging the exploration of innovative strategies to address identified barriers. It calls for improved data collection methods to strengthen the evidence base, better understand communication dynamics, and ultimately advance best practices in interprofessional communication within the perioperative community.