TY - JOUR
T1 - Surgeons' performance during critical situations
T2 - competence, confidence, and composure
AU - Wiggins-Dohlvik, Katie
AU - Stewart, Ronald M.
AU - Babbitt, Rachelle Jonas
AU - Gelfond, Jonathan
AU - Zarzabal, Lee Ann
AU - Willis, Ross E.
PY - 2009/12
Y1 - 2009/12
N2 - Background: Little is known about surgeons' performance during critical situations. We hypothesized that there are methods and techniques used by surgeons that facilitate performance during critical situations. Methods: Surgical faculty and senior general surgery residents from a single academic health center were surveyed. Results: Twenty-six surgeons participated. With respect to critical situations, the surgeons felt confident (96%), expected to be successful (96%), and most did not find these situations particularly stressful (62%). The majority reported using learned skills (92%) and agree their skills can be taught (82%). Practice and preparation were reported as very important (89%). A majority use pre-emptive visualization (68%). Competence, confidence, composure, preparation, and experience were most commonly listed as characteristics or behaviors that should be encouraged in aspiring surgeons. Anger, panic, indecision, fear, and chaos were the most commonly listed characteristics that should be discouraged. Conclusions: Surgeons' response to performance under pressure is complex; however, surgeons report using simple, learned techniques that seem to be targeted toward eliminating the "fight or flight" sympathetic nervous system response.
AB - Background: Little is known about surgeons' performance during critical situations. We hypothesized that there are methods and techniques used by surgeons that facilitate performance during critical situations. Methods: Surgical faculty and senior general surgery residents from a single academic health center were surveyed. Results: Twenty-six surgeons participated. With respect to critical situations, the surgeons felt confident (96%), expected to be successful (96%), and most did not find these situations particularly stressful (62%). The majority reported using learned skills (92%) and agree their skills can be taught (82%). Practice and preparation were reported as very important (89%). A majority use pre-emptive visualization (68%). Competence, confidence, composure, preparation, and experience were most commonly listed as characteristics or behaviors that should be encouraged in aspiring surgeons. Anger, panic, indecision, fear, and chaos were the most commonly listed characteristics that should be discouraged. Conclusions: Surgeons' response to performance under pressure is complex; however, surgeons report using simple, learned techniques that seem to be targeted toward eliminating the "fight or flight" sympathetic nervous system response.
KW - Critical situation
KW - Performance under pressure
KW - Stress
KW - Surgeon performance
KW - Surgery
KW - Survey
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=71149105309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=71149105309&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.04.030
DO - 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2009.04.030
M3 - Article
C2 - 19969135
AN - SCOPUS:71149105309
SN - 0002-9610
VL - 198
SP - 817
EP - 823
JO - American journal of surgery
JF - American journal of surgery
IS - 6
ER -