Team- and task-related knowledge in shared mental models in operating room teams: A survey study

OBJECTIVE: The operating room is a highly complex environment, where patient care is delivered by interprofessional teams. Unfortunately, issues with communication and teamwork occur, potentially leading to patient harm. A shared mental model is one prerequisite to function effectively as a team, and consists of task- and team-related knowledge. We aimed to explore potential differences in task- and team-related knowledge between the different professions working in the operating room. The assessed team-related knowledge consisted of knowledge regarding other professions’ training and work activities, and of perceived traits of a high-performing and underperforming colleague. Task-related knowledge was assessed by mapping the perceived allocation of responsibilities for certain tasks, using a Likert-type scale. DESIGN: A single sample cross-sectional study. SETTING: The study was performed in three hospitals in the Netherlands, one academic center and two regional teaching hospitals. PARTICIPANTS: 106 health care professionals participated, of four professions. Most respondents (77%) were certified professionals, the others were still in training. RESULTS: Participants generally were well informed about each other's training and work activities and nearly everyone mentioned the importance of adequate communication and teamwork. Discrepancies were also observed. The other professions knew on average the least about the profession of anesthesiologists and most about the profession of surgeons. When assessing the responsibilities regarding tasks we found consensus in well-defined and/or protocolized tasks, but variation in less clearly defined tasks. CONCLUSIONS: Team- and task-related knowledge in the operating room team is reasonably well developed, but irregularly, with potentially crucial differences in knowledge related to patient care. Awareness of these discrepancies is the first step in further optimization of team performance.