title: Perceptions of communication in the operating room: a pilot survey study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  An operating room (OR) environment is challenging and complicated. At any given time, several vital tasks are being performed by skilled individuals, including physicians, nurses, and ancillary staff. There is a potential for multifactorial mistakes; many arise because of communication issues.
  
  
  METHODS
  To evaluate the current state of perceptions of interdisciplinary communication in an OR setting, a survey was developed and administered to four academic residency training departments of anesthesiology in a single U.S. state.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results of this survey show that perceived poor communication within the OR leads to a lack of emphasis on a multidisciplinary approach to patient care in the OR.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Survey data can be used internally to identify shortcomings in communication at a facility, to stress the importance of communication, and to serve as a powerful education tool to potentially improve patient care. Through this type of survey, which emphasizes communication in the OR, stakeholders can work more effectively to improve patient care and decrease adverse outcomes in the hospital environment.
authors.forename: Melville Q
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wyche
authors.forename: Allyson C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Lemay
authors.forename: Dawn D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Tiemann
authors.forename: Craig B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Billeaud
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Amir O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Elhassan
authors.forename: Mary E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: James H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Laura J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.forename: Sascha S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Beutler
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Urman
authors.forename: Alan David
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000776:Anesthesiology / Q000193:education; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D008297:Male; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States