Differing perceptions of preoperative communication among surgical team members

Abstract Background Although preoperative communication is an emerging means through which surgical teams prepare for cases, little is known regarding its current state. This study investigated this topic in a survey of surgical team members. Methods An 11-question survey regarding the current state of and barriers to preoperative communication among surgical team members (surgeons, anesthesiologists, and surgical nurses and technologists) was distributed at a United States academic medical center utilizing the SurveyMonkey online questionnaire tool. Statistical analyses depended on variable type. Results The response rate was 49.4% (170 of 344 potential responses). All groups strongly agreed that preoperative communication contributes to health care quality and patient outcomes. Surgeons rated their satisfaction with the current state of preoperative communication more favorably than anesthesiologists ( p Conclusions There exist differing perceptions of preoperative communication among surgical team members, which conveys an opportunity for improvement across groups. Coordination of the timing of preoperative communication and standardization of the discussed content could help mitigate current barriers.