ABSTRACT

Psychological safety enables the interpersonal risk-taking necessary for providing safer patient care in the operating room (OR). Limited studies look at psychological safety in the OR from the perspectives of each highly specialized team member. Therefore, we investigated each member’s perspective on the factors that influence psychological safety in the OR. Interviews were conducted with operative team members of a level 1 trauma center in central Texas. The interviews were transcribed, de-identified, and coded by two investigators independently, and thematic analysis was performed. Responses were collected from 21 participants representing all surgical team roles (attending surgeons, attending anesthesiologists, circulating nurses, nurse anesthetists, scrub techs, and residents). Circulating nurse responses were redacted for confidentiality (n = 1). Six major themes influencing psychological safety in the OR were identified. Psychological safety is essential to better, safer patient care. Establishing a climate of mutual respect and suspended judgment in an OR safe for learning will lay the foundation for achieving psychological safety in the OR. Team exercises in building rapport and mutual understanding are important starting points.

Faculty credentials/disclosure 

Dr. Adair White is a health professions educator at MGH Institute with expertise in organizational psychology and educational leadership. Dr. Papaconstantinou serves as chair of the Department of Surgery at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center – Temple with expertise in quality, safety, efficiency, and leadership in surgery. Dr. Lin was a general surgery resident at the time the study was conducted and will resume her studies as a radiology resident. The authors and planner for this educational activity have no relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing health care products used by or on patients.

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Expiration date:

Credit eligibility for this article is set to expire on January 1, 2025.