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Evaluating Non-Technical Skills in Surgery

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Health Services Research

Part of the book series: Success in Academic Surgery ((SIAS))

Abstract

Non-technical skills are increasingly recognized as essential to providing safe and effective surgical care. In this chapter, we first review the policy context for studying surgeons’ non-technical skills. Next, we define the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) behavior rating system, including situation awareness, decision making, communication and teamwork, and leadership in the operating room. We review major domains of ongoing research on surgeons’ non-technical skills and discuss measurement considerations for researchers planning to study non-technical skills. Finally, we identify promising areas for future health services researchers to develop successful careers studying non-technical skills in surgery.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Jason C. Pradarelli, Steven Yule & Douglas S. Smink

  2. Ariadne Labs at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

    Jason C. Pradarelli, Steven Yule & Douglas S. Smink

  3. STRATUS Center for Medical Simulation, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Steven Yule & Douglas S. Smink

Authors
  1. Jason C. Pradarelli
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  2. Steven Yule
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  3. Douglas S. Smink
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jason C. Pradarelli .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Justin B. Dimick

  2. Department of Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

    Carrie C. Lubitz

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Pradarelli, J.C., Yule, S., Smink, D.S. (2020). Evaluating Non-Technical Skills in Surgery. In: Dimick, J., Lubitz, C. (eds) Health Services Research. Success in Academic Surgery. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28357-5_12

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-28357-5_12

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-28356-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-28357-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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