Using the OR Black Box to Assess Surgical Team Member Adaptation Under Uncertainty

This study utilized the OR Black Box® to analyze how different surgical team members contribute to teamwork and adapt their skills during uncertain situations, particularly when dealing with intraoperative adverse events (IAEs). The research team examined audiovisual data from 23 laparoscopic surgeries at a large community teaching hospital, coding for six specific teamwork skills across four key roles: nurses, anesthesiologists, surgeons, and medical trainees.

The findings revealed distinct patterns of adaptation among team members during IAEs. Nurses significantly increased their backup behavior, while surgeons and medical trainees demonstrated a substantial increase in psychological safety-related skills. Interestingly, all roles showed a decrease in situation assessment skills during IAEs. These results highlight the unique contributions and adaptations of each role in the surgical team during critical moments. The researchers conclude that this knowledge should inform the development of tailored interventions to enhance interprofessional teamwork in surgical settings, emphasizing the value of the OR Black Box in capturing and analyzing these nuanced team dynamics.