A. Esce1, D. A. Rodeberg2,4, M. Browne4,5, D. H. Rothstein3,4, D. Wakeman1,4 5Lehigh Valley Health Network,Division Of Pediatric Surgical Specialties/Department Of Surgery,Allentown, PA, USA 4American Academy Of Pediatrics Section On Surgey,Delivery Of Surgery Committee,Elk Grove Village, IL, USA 1University Of Rochester School Of Medicine,Rochester, NY, USA 2East Carolina University Brody School Of Medicine,Greenville, NC, USA 3Women & Children’s Hospital Of Buffalo,Pediatric Surgery,Buffalo, NY, USA
Introduction: Team training programs adapt crew resource management principles from aviation to foster communication and prevent medical errors. Although multiple studies have demonstrated team training programs such as TeamSTEPPS® improve patient outcomes and safety across medical disciplines, limited data exist about their application to surgical teams. The purpose of this study was to investigate usage and perceptions of team training programs by pediatric surgeons and anesthesiologists. We hypothesized that team training programs are not widely available to pediatric surgical teams.
Methods: We performed an online survey of Pediatric Surgery (General, Plastic, Urologic, Orthopedic, Otolaryngologic, and Ophthalmologic) and Anesthesiology members of the American Academy of Pediatrics. The survey inquired about completion and perceptions regarding efficacy of team-training programs. Simple descriptive statistics were used to interpret the data.
Results: 152 pediatric surgeons and 12 anesthesiologists completed the survey with a 10% response rate. Over half of the respondents were general pediatric surgeons. Home institutions offered TeamSTEPPS® or another team-training program in 39% of respondents. Of those with a program, 77% had completed training. Though most (76%) who participated in team training programs did so by requirement, 90% found it helpful. Of the 61% of surgeons who said their institution did not offer team-training programs, 60% said they would participate if one were offered and additional 32% said they might participate. The biggest barriers to participation were not enough free time or that the team training program was not offered to their department.
Conclusions: Team-training programs are considered beneficial amongst pediatric surgeons and anesthesiologists who have completed them. Unfortunately, despite substantial evidence showing training for team work improves team functioning and patient outcomes, many pediatric surgical teams do not have team training programs at their institutions. Further expansion of team-training programs may be valuable to improving a culture of safety in children’s hospitals.