Modeling Technical Error and Adverse Outcomes

University of Missouri, Kansas City

Status: Completed

Conditions: Surgical Errors

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04183439

17-076

Details and patient eligibility

About

The investigators' objective was to develop a theoretical model exploring the relationship between technical errors and adverse patient outcomes. To achieve this aim, the investigators interviewed surgeons from a diverse group of surgical specialties, asking them about their adverse outcomes from surgery and their most granular surgical techniques. the investigators' focus was on adverse outcomes that could be predictably associated with imperfect surgical technique and therefore prevented with proper technique.

Full description

Background:

Minute technical errors performed by the surgeon have the potential to lead to adverse patient outcomes. The objective was to gain a deeper understanding of this relationship through the development of an intraoperative model.

Materials and Methods:

The investigators used Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology, including a comprehensive review of the literature and interviews with surgeons, focusing on avoidance of technical errors. The investigators used the Observational Clinical Human Reliability Assessment system, which categorizes granular, technical intraoperative errors, as their conceptual framework. The investigators iteratively interviewed surgeons, from multiple adult and pediatric surgical specialties, refined our semi-structured interview, and developed a model. The model remained stable after interviewing 11 surgeons, and it was reviewed it with earlier interviewed surgeons.

Enrollment: 11 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Surgical teacher

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

11 participants in 1 patient group

Surgeons Interviewed

Description:

We recruited surgeons from two University academic health centers, one specializing in adults and the other in children. The surgeons were selected through a snowball technique and emailed to participate. DK and GS interviewed eleven surgical attendings representing 10 surgical specialties. (Table 2) Each subject had at least 10 years of experience in their respective fields and regularly taught residents.