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Improving Intraoperative Communication in Trauma: The Educational Effect of the Joint DSTC™–DATC™ Courses

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Abstract

Background

Operative management of severe trauma requires excellent communication among team members. The surgeon and anesthesiologist need to interact efficiently, exchanging vital information. The Definitive Surgical Trauma Care (DSTC) and Definitive Anesthesia Trauma Care (DATC) courses provide an excellent opportunity for teamwork training. Our goal was to study the impact of the joint DSTC–DATC courses in candidates’ self-reported assessment in communication skills and techniques in a simulated intraoperative trauma scenario.

Methods

Study population consists of 93 candidates (67 surgeons and 26 anesthesiologists) participating in four consecutive joint DSTC–DATC courses in May and June 2019 in Brazil (3) and in Portugal (1). Median age was 30 years; 53 (60%) of subjects were male (46 senior residents and 47 specialists). All participants attended joint lectures, case discussions and surgical skills session, emphasizing intraoperative communication. Post-course survey on several aspects of perioperative communication (responses on a Likert scale) was conducted with participants being asked which aspects of intraoperative communication they valued the most.

Results

All participants responded to the survey. Results displayed an increase in the self-assessed importance of team briefing and intraoperative communication, particularly routine periodic communication, rather than only at critical moments. Postoperative team debriefing was also valued as highly relevant. Closed-loop and direct, by-name communication were highly rated. Self-reported communication skills improved significantly during the course.

Conclusions

Joint training in the DSTC–DATC courses improved candidates’ perception and skills on proficient intraoperative communication. Further studies should address both the durability of these changes and the potential impact on patient care.

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Author information

Author notes

  1. Henrique Alexandrino and Sérgio Baptista contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Azinhaga de Santa Comba, 3000-548, Coimbra, Portugal

    Henrique Alexandrino

  2. Department of Surgery, Coimbra University Hospital Center, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal

    Henrique Alexandrino, Luís Ferreira & Carlos Mesquita

  3. Centro Hospitalar Médio Tejo, EPE, Av. Maria de Lurdes Melo e Castro, Ap. 118, 2304-909, Tomar, Portugal

    Sérgio Baptista

  4. Hospital Nélio Mendonça and Regional Emergency Service (SRPC/IPRAM) - Serviço de Saúde da RAM, E.P.E, Avenida Luís de Camões, no 57, 9004-514, Funchal, Portugal

    Luís Vale

  5. Hospital e Maternidade Galileo, Valinhos, São Paulo, Brazil

    José Hélio Zen Júnior

  6. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Pós Graduação em Ciências Médicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas/UNICAMP, Rua Tessália Vieira de Camargo, 126. Cidade Universitária Zeferino Vaz, Campinas, SP, CEP 13083-887, Brazil

    José Hélio Zen Júnior

  7. Departamento de Cirurgia Geral, Faculdade Medicina de São José do Rio Preto-FAMERP, São José de Rio Preto, Brazil

    Paulo César Espada

  8. General Surgeon and Health Secretary, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil

    Danilo Stanzani Junior

  9. Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Avenida Brigadeiro Faria Lima, 811, Putim, São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Luiz Antonio Vane

  10. School of Medical Science - Unicamp - Campinas-Brazil School of Medical Sciences (SMS), University of Campinas (Unicamp), Rua Alexander Fleming, 181, Cidade Universitária “Prof. Zeferino Vaz”, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Vanessa Henriques Carvalho

  11. Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto, EPE, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar, 4099-001, Porto, Portugal

    Lara Marcelo

  12. Department of Anesthesiology, Coimbra University Hospital Center, Praceta Mota Pinto, 3000-075, Coimbra, Portugal

    Filipa Madeira

  13. Quinta São João C, 9000-190, Funchal, Portugal

    Ricardo Duarte

  14. Department of Surgery, Tondela-Viseu Hospital Center, Viseu, Portugal

    Jorge Pereira & Luís Filipe Pinheiro

  15. Division of Trauma Surgery, Department of Surgery, School of Medical Sciences (SMS), University of Campinas (Unicamp), Rua Alexander Fleming, 181, Cidade Universitária “Prof. Zeferino Vaz”, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil

    Gustavo Pereira Fraga

Authors
  1. Henrique Alexandrino
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  2. Sérgio Baptista
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  3. Luís Vale
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  4. José Hélio Zen Júnior
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  8. Vanessa Henriques Carvalho
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  9. Lara Marcelo
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  11. Ricardo Duarte
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  12. Luís Ferreira
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  13. Jorge Pereira
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  15. Gustavo Pereira Fraga
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  16. Carlos Mesquita
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Correspondence to Henrique Alexandrino.

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Alexandrino, H., Baptista, S., Vale, L. et al. Improving Intraoperative Communication in Trauma: The Educational Effect of the Joint DSTC™–DATC™ Courses. World J Surg 44, 1856–1862 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05421-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00268-020-05421-5

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