title: Surgeons managing conflict in the operating room: defining the educational need and identifying effective behaviors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Developing an operating room conflict management educational program for surgeons requires a formal needs assessment and information about behaviors that represent effective conflict management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Focus groups of circulating room nurses and surgeons were conducted at 5 participating centers. Participants responded to queries about conflict management training, conflict consequences, and effective conflict management behaviors. Transcripts of these sessions served as the data for this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Educational preparation for conflict management was inadequate consisting of trial and error with observed behaviors. Conflict and conflict mismanagement had negative consequences for team members and team performance. Four behaviors emerge as representing effective ways for surgeons to manage conflict.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a clear educational need for conflict management education. Target behaviors have now been identified that can provide the basis for a theoretically grounded and contextually adapted instruction and assessment of surgeon conflict management.
authors.affiliation: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62794, USA. darogers@uab.edu
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Lorelei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lingard
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Boehler
authors.forename: Sherry
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Espin
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Mellinger
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klingensmith
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000592:standards; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017008:Negotiating / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D009726:Nurses / Q000592:standards; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000592:standards; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000592:standards; D010820:Physicians / Q000592:standards; D011361:Professional Competence / Q000592:standards; D013043:Specialties, Surgical; D000078329:Workforce