The operating theatre team in multidisciplinary sectors at the university teaching hospital of careggi (AOUC): A training project on non-technical skills

Several health care professionals work simultaneously in multidisciplinary sectors of operating theatre. Clinical trials have proved that good relationships within operating theatre teams foster security and hold errors. Teams can be multidisciplinary—composed by professionals belonging to different disciplines—or homogeneous—composed by professional belonging to the same discipline. It happens quite often, mainly in emergency surgery, that professionals belonging to different disciplines work together without knowing each other (and often without ever having met before). In these situations good communication skills are essential and should be required in order to carry out a successful synergistic action. Many factors influence relationships within operating theatre teams: Space and facilities. A comfortable and safe environment improve the work.—Organization. In operating theatre planning has to be considered an integrant part of work quality. Use of innovative technologies. Many critical situations stem from operator-technology interface. Advanced surgical techniques. More complex surgery performances are requested. – The stress and strain for working 24 hours straight, which may affect relationships within the team. Emotional involvement due to stressful and grave clinical situations.