Application of Non-Technical Skills (Human Factor) Principles in the Operating Theatre
By Loh Huey Peng, Assistant Director, Nursing, Operating Theatre, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
My
interest in Non-Technical Skills (NTS), or human factors, began when I
visited The Rotterdam Eye Hospital in Netherlands for the inaugural
World Association of Eye Hospital (WAEH) meeting back in 2007. I was
intrigued and fascinated by studies which applied aviation NTS training
principles into the operating theatre, for example surgeons experiencing
the role of a pilot. NTS is a combination of cognitive, social, and
personal resource skills that complement technical skills and they are a
crucial component in many high risk industries such as aviation,
nuclear plants, and in my professional field, the operating theatre.
I realised NTS could potentially bridge a gap in adverse patient safety occurrences, a concern still prevalent today,
more than 15 years after the Institute of Medicine first published the
report “To Err is Human” in 1999. The report highlighted that many of
such adverse patient safety events were attributed to failures in NTS
rather than a lack of technical expertise. However, progress to assess,
train, and improve NTS for similar high risk areas such as the operating
theatre remains restricted. Identifying important non-technical skills
and their associated behaviours underpin the development of future
training programs in enhancing patient safety efforts.
That’s
where my research comes in. I was determined to explore this area for my
PhD despite its many challenges. Firstly, convincing fellow clinicians
that this was a research area of significant impact and value was
essential. I was fortunate to have support from my organisation as well
as guidance from both my site supervisors, Dr Yin ShanQin, a human
factor specialist and Dr Dirk De Korne, who came to Singapore from The
Rotterdam Eye Hospital. Both are equally passionate in research about
human factors in healthcare.
Loh Huey Peng, Assistant Director, Nursing, Operating Theatre, Singapore National Eye Centre (SNEC)
Read the complete interview: interview