Eyes on incivility in surgical teams: Teamwork, well-being, and an intervention (30 November 2023)

Summary

An innovative approach to managing behaviour in the operating room (OR) using posters with eye symbols has seen positive results.

A team of Australian researchers conducted a successful trial to address offensive and impolite remarks within ORs by implementing ‘eye’ signage in surgical rooms.

These posters, placed on the walls of an Adelaide orthopaedic hospital’s operating theatre without explanation, effectively reduced poor behaviour among surgical teams.

The lead researcher, Professor Cheri Ostroff from the University of South Australia, attributed this outcome to a sense of being ‘watched’, even though the eyes are not real.

The three-month experiment targeted a prevalent culture of bullying and misconduct in surgical settings, a problem pervasive not only in healthcare but across various high-stress industries.

Professor Ostroff emphasised that besides affecting staff morale and productivity, rude behaviour also has a detrimental impact on patients, particularly in compromising teamwork and communication during surgery, potentially leading to poorer outcomes.