title: Can Simulated Team Tasks be Used to Improve Nontechnical Skills in the Operating Room?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to understand the effect of a team-based surgical skills intervention on the technical and nontechnical skills of surgery residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study with pretesting or posttesting. We designed basic tasks for the assessment and learning of nontechnical skills in the operating room (OR). A total of 15 postgraduate year 1 residents performed an open gastrojejunostomy in a simulated OR setting (pretest), followed by training in the 3 team-based tasks designed to teach communication and teamwork, followed by performance of a gastrojejunostomy in the simulated OR (posttest).
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary care, university-based teaching institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 15 general surgery residents at the intern level.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean nontechnical skills for surgeons (NOTSS) score improved postteam task training (10.04 ± 0.33 vs. 12.14 ± 1.33). There was a concomitant increase in the objective structured assessment of technical skills (OSATS) score (18.56 ± 0.86 vs. 22.86 ± 0.15, p = 0.006). The percentage increases in OSATS and NOTSS score for each resident was similar (19.49 ± 4.8 % for NOTSS vs. 21.22 ± 4.92 % for OSATS, p = 0.502).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nontechnical skills positively correlate with the technical performance of a surgeon. Simple, easily designed tasks can be used to improve NOTSS in the OR. These team tasks and development of curricula based on them can be used to explicitly address one of the most important components of ACGME core competencies for surgical residents, namely interpersonal skills and communication.
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Raghavendra
authors: R
authors: Rao
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Penn Medicine Simulation Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Electronic address: dumonk@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors: Kristoffel R
authors: KR
authors: Dumon
authors: Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Christopher J
authors: CJ
authors: Neylan
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Jon B
authors: JB
authors: Morris
authors: Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Elijah W
authors: EW
authors: Riddle
authors: Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Sensenig
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Penn Medicine Simulation Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Yangseon
authors: Y
authors: Park
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Penn Medicine Simulation Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Noel N
authors: NN
authors: Williams
authors: Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Daniel T
authors: DT
authors: Dempsey
authors: Division of Surgical Education, Department of Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
authors: Ari D
authors: AD
authors: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015390:Gastric Bypass / Q000193:education; D013502:General Surgery / Q000193:education*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000379:methods*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000193:education; D008297:Male; D009873:Operating Rooms; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000379:methods*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Patient Care; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; education; gastrojejunostomy; nontechnical skills; technical skills