Navigating towards improved surgical safety using aviation-based strategies.

Full Abstract

Safety practices in the aviation industry are being increasingly adapted to healthcare in an effort to reduce medical errors and patient harm. However, caution should be applied in embracing these practices because of limited experience in surgical disciplines, lack of rigorous research linking these practices to outcome, and fundamental differences between the two industries. Surgeons should have an in-depth understanding of the principles and data supporting aviation-based safety strategies before routinely adopting them. This paper serves as a review of strategies adapted to improve surgical safety, including the following:
implementation of crew resource management in training operative teams; incorporation of simulation in training of technical and nontechnical skills; and analysis of contributory factors to errors using surveys, behavioral marker systems, human factors analysis, and incident reporting. Avenues and challenges for future research are also discussed.

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Author information

Author/s: Kao, Lillian S (LS); Thomas, Eric J (EJ);

Affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 62008, USA. Lillian.S.Kao@uth.tmc.edu

Grants: 1 P01HS1154401 (Agency:United States AHRQ)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.; Review

Journal: The Journal of surgical research (J Surg Res), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2008-Apr; vol 145 (issue 2) : pp 327-35

Dates: Created 2008/03/10; Completed 2008/04/17; Revised 2008/08/19;

PMID: 17477934, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: J Surg Res. 2008 Aug;148(2):114-5. (PMID: 18501378)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Organizational Culture
Quality Assurance, Health Care - methods; organization & administration
Risk Management - methods; organization & administration
Safety - standards
Surgery - standards

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