Can you hear me?' Barriers to and facilitators of communication in the presence of noise in the operating room
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Volume 34 Issue 3 Article 2 7-30-2021 'Can you hear me?' Barriers to and facilitators of communication in the presence of noise in the operating room Louise C. Grant Mrs PhD Candidate, Melbourne School of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia., louiseg1@student.unimelb.edu.au Pat F. Nicholson Associate Professor Associate Professor of Nursing, Higher Degrees Research Coordinator, Course Director, Masters of Nursing Practice (Perioperative), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. Honorary Senior Fellow School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne Parkville, Australia, p.nicholson@deakin.edu.au Bronwyn Davidson Associate Professor Honorary Principal Fellow, Department of Audiology and Speech Pathology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia., bronwynd@unimelb.edu.au Follow thisManias Elizabeth Professor and additional works at: https://www.journal.acorn.org.au/jpn Associate Head of School (Research), Faculty of Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Centre for Part of the Perioperative, Operating Room and Surgical Nursing Commons Quality and Patient Safety Research, Institute for Health Transformation Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. Honorary Professor School of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne Parkville, This work Australia is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License. , emanias@deakin.edu.au Recommended Citation Grant, Louise C. Mrs; Nicholson, Pat F. Associate Professor; Davidson, Bronwyn Associate Professor; and Manias, Elizabeth Professor (2021) "'Can you hear me?' Barriers to and facilitators of communication in the presence of noise in the operating room," Journal of Perioperative Nursing: Vol. 34 : Iss. 3 , Article 2. Available at: https://doi.org/10.26550/2209-1092.1132 https://www.journal.acorn.org.au/jpn/vol34/iss3/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by Journal of Perioperative Nursing. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Perioperative Nursing by an authorized editor of Journal of Perioperative Nursing.
'Can you hear me?' Barriers to and facilitators of communication in the presence of noise in the operating room Cover Page Footnote Funding of this research was supported by a research grant from the Australian College of Perioperative Nurses (ACORN). The author would like to thank the health professionals working at the research site and ACORN for their support of this research. The author would also like to acknowledge the support of this research through the Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship. This article is available in Journal of Perioperative Nursing: https://www.journal.acorn.org.au/jpn/vol34/iss3/2
Peer-reviewed article ‘Can you hear me?’ Authors Louise Grant Barriers to and facilitators of MClinSci (Periop), RN, MACORN, MACN PhD Candidate, Melbourne School of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia communication in the presence Associate Professor Patricia Nicholson PhD, RN, FACORN of noise in the operating room Associate Professor of Nursing, Higher Degrees Research Coordinator, Course Director, Masters of Nursing Practice Abstract (Perioperative), School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Deakin Aim University, Burwood, Australia. Honorary The aim of this study was to explore health professionals’ perceptions of the Senior Fellow School of Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne Parkville, impact of noise on communication in the operating room. Australia Sample and setting Associate Professor Bronwyn Davidson B Sp Thy, PhD, FSPA Health professionals working in the operating room at a tertiary, affiliated, Honorary Principal Fellow, Department major referral hospital in northern Australia were recruited using purposive of Audiology and Speech Pathology, sampling. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia Method Professor Elizabeth Manias M Nurs Stud, M Pharm, PhD, FAAN Semi-structured interviews were undertaken using an exploratory qualitative Associate Head of School (Research), design to explore health professionals’ perceptions of communication and the Faculty of Health, School of Nursing impact of noise in the operating room. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and Midwifery, Centre for Quality and and analysed using thematic analysis. Patient Safety Research, Institute for Health Transformation Deakin University, Burwood, Australia. Honorary Professor Results School of Health Sciences, Department In all, 26 health professionals participated, including anaesthetists, surgeons, of Nursing, The University of Melbourne Department of Medicine, Royal Melbourne nurses and theatre technicians. Two themes were analysed from the Hospital, The University of Melbourne data: barriers to communication and facilitators of communication in the Parkville, Australia operating room. Barriers to communication focused on difficulties that health professionals experienced when attempting to communicate in the presence Corresponding author of noise – difficulty hearing in noisy operating rooms, positioning of health Louise Grant professionals, and inability to filter out sounds. Facilitators of communication MClinSci (Periop), RN, MACORN, MACN consisted of health professionals’ adaption to the presence of noise during PhD Candidate, Melbourne School of communication – non-verbal communication, such as gestures, and the ability Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, to filter out unwanted sounds. The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia louiseg1@student.unimelb.edu.au Conclusion Health professionals of all levels of experience encounter communication difficulties. With increased experience, health professionals are able to filter out unwanted sounds provided the OR is not too noisy. Consideration needs to be given to the use of space and positioning of noise emitting equipment to optimise communication in the OR. Furthermore, communication can be facilitated by the judicious use of non-verbal communication. Keywords: operating room, communication, noise, communication barriers, interdisciplinary communication, health communication e-26 Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au
Background typical OR noises including quiet, by the surgeons and other team filtered noise and background OR members who participated in the The operating room (OR) is busy, with noise13. In another study, that used a study24. activities such as opening paper cross-sectional design to survey the packets and handling instruments Past research into communication in effects of noise on work practices and equipment, and noisy with the OR has used surveys focussing in the OR, surgeons expressed that phones ringing, alarms sounding, on communication between OR they found noise distracting during music being played and devices health professionals, quality of OR activities such as completing emitting noise1–6. Such noise-emitting communication during laparoscopic the surgical safety checklist14. Two devices may include suction, forced surgery, communication and cross-sectional studies surveying air patient warmers, high volume teamwork, and the impact of noise anaesthetists found that good suction units and the anaesthetic on OR health professionals’ work communication among health machine which may sound alarms. practices14–17,25. In studies where professionals was an important Health professionals in the OR qualitative designs were used, the factor in delivering patient care15, include anaesthetists, surgeons, focus was on team communication23, and poor communication resulted nurses and theatre technicians. When the impact of tension on in surgical or procedural delay16. In trying to communicate effectively, communication26, interdisciplinary another cross-sectional study, OR these health professionals must communication dynamics24 and health professionals were surveyed compete with the noise generated by communication behaviours for on teamwork and communication, devices and activities. When surveyed effective workplace practice27. There with nurses explaining that a about noise and communication, has been little previous work on hierarchy within the health care health professionals acknowledged how noise impacts communication. team led to reluctance to raise that the OR was a noisy environment Health professionals’ perceptions concerns about patient safety issues17. which impacted negatively on their and experiences of communicating Past research into communication ability to deliver patient care7. in the presence of noise needs to be failure in the OR found the failure further explored to enable a deeper There are three main sources of rate ranged from nine percent18 to understanding of communication and noise in the OR – conversations, 57 per cent19 of all communication the influence of noise in the OR. equipment and music. These result events, depending on the type of procedure, surgical specialty and the in average sound pressure levels phases of the surgical procedures Aim ranging from 55 to 70 decibels (A weighted) (dB(A))8,9. The average observed. Communication between The aim of this study was to explore sound pressure levels for various OR health professionals is an operating room health professionals’ types of conversation are 45 to 55 essential component of delivering perceptions of the impact of noise dB(A) for quiet conversations9, 60 patient care, with communication on communication in the operating dB(A) for normal conversations10 and failure negatively impacting patient room. 61 to 70 dB(A) reported for speaking safety20. with raised voices11,12. Therefore, with Communication failure is a Sample and setting the diverse range of average sound common cause of adverse events The research was undertaken levels in the OR, health professionals that originate in the OR with at a tertiary university-affiliated would be required to raise their voice consequences including surgical hospital, which services a large in order to be heard. count errors leading to retained rural and remote area of Northern Past research has found that surgical products, patient harm or Australia. Participants were 205 health professionals, whether they death; wrong site or side surgery, health professionals employed in the were undertaking a task or not, and wrong implant inserted21,22. operating suite, including surgeons, experienced diminished ability A qualitative study identified surgical trainees, anaesthetists, to communicate effectively with communication failure, with anaesthetic trainees, perioperative the sound levels commonly in the information not being communicated, nurses and theatre technicians. OR13. In their research, Way et al.13 to be a result of hesitancy and Information about the research was assessed the surgeon’s ability to reservation23. In a grounded theory presented to health professionals understand and repeat words, with study using semi-structured during weekly meetings and followed and without undertaking a task, with interviews, communication failure up by email and with information and without music playing, and with was interpreted as a lack of respect notices placed at various sites in the Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au e-27
operating suite. Further information Table 1: Topic guide for Results was given to those who expressed interviews an interest in participating, and a In all, 26 interviews were undertaken mutually agreeable interview time ranging from 17 to 65 minutes with Topic wording an average length of 29 minutes. was organised. Interviews were conducted in a quiet room within Ten participants were women, and 1. How do you think noise or adjacent to the operating suite. 16 were men. The anaesthetists impacts communication in the Purposive sampling was used to included seven consultants and one OR? recruit participants from each trainee. Of the nurses interviewed, health professional group to ensure 2. What do you think influences two were anaesthetic nurses, representation from each group communication in the OR? four were instrument–circulating and a wide range of ages, years of nurses and two were anaesthetic– experience and number of years 3. Tell me about any problems instrument–circulating nurses. The working at the research site28. you have had communicating surgeons comprised five consultants in the OR. Can you describe and three trainees from a range of Inclusion criteria for participating surgical specialties – ear, nose and a situation where this has health professionals were a throat (n = 2), general surgery (n = occurred? minimum of two weeks worked and 3), neurosurgery (n = 1), ophthalmic at least one day per week working in surgery (n = 1), and orthopaedic the operating rooms at the research The thematic analysis process surgery (n = 1). Four participants site. Exclusion criteria were working consisted of five stages – becoming spoke a language other than English only in the preoperative or post- familiar with the data in the at home (Table 2). operative care of patients. transcripts, conceptualising the Two major themes emerged themes, applying the themes to the Methods data, rearranging the data into the from data analysis – ‘barriers to communication in the presence This research used an exploratory themes and mapping the themes31. of noise’ and ‘facilitators of qualitative methodology with NVivo for Mac (version 11.4.3, communication in the presence of semi-structured interviews to Melbourne) was used to manage the noise’. investigate how health professionals data during the final two stages of the analysis process. perceived the impact of noise on Barriers to communication in communication in the operating Rigour during the recruitment and the presence of noise room29. The research was granted data analysis phase was maintained ethical approval from the research by the selection of participants, The theme ‘barriers to site ethics committee ((2017.2801) and the use of a reflective journal and communication in the presence the university (1749562). collaborative discussion during the of noise’ consisted of three sub- analysis process. During the data themes – ‘hearing difficulties in The interviews were undertaken by noisy ORs’, ‘positioning of health the first author using a topic guide collection, the first author kept a journal to record reflections after professionals’ and ‘being unable to (Table 1) derived from past research7,27 filter out sounds’. and guided by the first author’s each interview. The reflective journal was also used to prepare for the clinical experience as a perioperative Hearing difficulties in noisy nurse working at the research interview to ensure no preconceived operating rooms site19,30. The first author underwent ideas were included in the data training, and the other authors had collected23. During the analysis Participants expressed that their experience in undertaking qualitative process, the data coded into each attitudes to noise changed as they interviews with content expertise in theme were regularly reviewed grew older. A surgeon reported perioperative nursing, patient safety to ensure the definition of each that younger health professionals and interprofessional communication. theme was consistent throughout were still able to communicate in Semi-structured interviews were the analysis process32. Each theme the presence of noise. However, he audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim was discussed collaboratively with reported becoming less tolerant and analysed by all authors using all authors to ensure consistency of noise in the OR as he aged. The thematic analysis31, enabling themes throughout the coding process26,33. surgeon described: to be explored and interpreted. e-28 Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au
Table 2: Characteristics of participants (N = 26) to speak in a raised voice over the noise emitted by the equipment. The Demograhics n surgeon reported: Anaesthetists and trainees 8 … in [a small operating room], the scrub nurse has to be confined Surgeons and trainees 8 to a corner because of the Occupation arrangements of the [equipment] … Nurses 8 So, I find perhaps the nurse has to talk more often or speak more Theatre technicians 2 loudly to reach the nurse on the other end. But in [a large operating Less than 1 year 1 room] … there is more space to 1–5 years 3 move around so you can quietly ask the nurse whatever you need. Number of years 6–10 years 14 (SC1) working in OR 11–15 years 3 An instrument–circulating nurse commented that positioning More than 16 years 5 equipment, such as the suction and electrosurgical units, near the Less than 1 year 5 foot end of the OR table negatively impacted effective communication. 1–5 years 14 Instrument–circulating nurses Number of years at positioned near the equipment were 6–10 years 3 research site required to raise their voice in order 11–15 years 3 to be heard. This was a concern raised by the nurses when required More than 16 years 1 to complete the surgical count. An anaesthetic nurse recounted a situation affected by the position I think younger people … in Positioning of health of the suction and electrosurgical the operating [room] tolerate professionals units in the OR. In this situation, a noise and seem to manage with circulating nurse was experiencing communication. Certainly, my The layout of equipment in an OR varied according to the room’s size difficulties understanding what the experience has been that I was instrument nurse was asking. The more tolerant of noise in the and physical layout and position of items such as gas supply outlets and anaesthetic nurse was situated on operating [room] when I was the opposite side of the OR and younger. (SC4) power points. How the space in the OR was used when positioning the could clearly hear the circulating An anaesthetist, aged between 26 equipment influenced where health nurse asking the instrument nurse to and 35 years, described that he was professionals were able to stand and repeat the request. The anaesthetic becoming more frustrated conversing move around during surgery, and nurse described: in a noisy OR as he grew older. thus had impact on their ability to I have noticed that if I’m over the Another surgeon also attributed his communicate. other side [of the OR] to where the communication difficulties in noisy [instrument] trolley tends to be … A surgeon observed that he was ORs to hearing loss caused by aging. They may be going back and forth required to use the same speciality This surgeon commented that he was with a ‘May I have this?’ … ‘What are equipment irrespective of the size of unaware of noisy ORs when he was you saying?’ … I can hear perfectly the OR. This resulted in less space a trainee; however, as a consultant well what that [instrument nurse] for health professionals to navigate this situation had changed and he is saying, … and I will venture over and approach a person to converse experienced difficulties while trying and say this is what they want. quietly when operating in a small OR. to communicate. (NAIC2) Instead, a health professional had Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au e-29
Being unable to filter out Facilitators of knowing the operation and getting sounds communication in the to know each other. (SC7) The ability to clearly comprehend presence of noise The use of non-verbal gestures to conversations required health The theme ‘facilitators of communicate was described by professionals to filter out some of an anaesthetic consultant when communication in the presence of the sounds in the OR, allowing them the OR was noisy. The consultant noise’ consisted of two sub-themes – to focus on conversations that were used gestures such as stern facial ‘using non-verbal communication in necessary at the time. However, expressions or holding his finger up the presence of noise’ and ‘being health professionals reported that to pursed lips to request for silence able to filter out sounds in the when the OR was noisy, they were in the OR. Moreover, an anaesthetic presence of noise’. unable to filter out these sounds. trainee recalled the response she Using non-verbal communication received when she stood up suddenly An inexperienced instrument– in the OR with a stern look on her circulating nurse, with limited in the presence of noise face and projected her voice to get working experience in the OR, Non-verbal communication was the attention of the other health became overburdened when described as an effective form professionals in the OR. The use of attempting to listen to all of communication when the OR non-verbal gestures enabled her conversations occurring around her. was noisy. Participants recalled to gain their attention during the The nurse recalled: using non-verbal gestures, either emergency. The trainee recounted: independently or in conjunction At the moment I’m trying to I have to admit being six foot … I with verbal communication, and listen to everybody. … You have just tend to have to stand up. … specifically using their hands, eyes, or the anaesthetists talking to their it’s your non-verbal stuff. If you facial expressions to communicate. students. … You have the surgeon actually are a six-foot-tall female, speaking to the other nurse and all A surgeon recounted being able to stand up and make eye contact the other different noises and bits use non-verbal hand gestures to with the theatre and project your and pieces. … at the moment I’m facilitate effective communication voice so that everyone just goes just taking it all in …, it becomes a when requesting a surgical [clicks fingers] boom. … with the I’m little bit overwhelming. (NIC1) instrument during a surgical not joking tone … and it works quite procedure. He stated that during a well …. I’m usually laid back, all of a When the OR was noisy, a theatre procedure he tended to mumble; sudden, you’re – you’re a presence technician was unable to concentrate therefore, in a noisy OR he preferred in the theatre. (AT8) on requests made by other members to use non-verbal communication. of the team. The technician forgot However, the surgeon qualified the Being able to filter out sounds the task he was asked to complete use of non-verbal hand gestures in the presence of noise due to the volume of noise that for communication by adding that was occurring at the time. This this style of communication would Another facilitator of effective forgetfulness resulted in repeated depend on the level of experience communication in the presence communication and hindered his of the instrument nurse, whether of noise was being able to filter ability to complete the task in a the instrument nurse was attentive out sounds in the OR. Participants timely manner. Similarly, a surgical during the surgical procedure and reported that filtering out sounds trainee described his experiences how often they had worked together. such as concurrent conversations of attempting to concentrate during The surgeon reported: and equipment, including suction or complex surgery. He related that if electrosurgical units, enabled them I think if it is a good [instrument] to focus their attention on the tasks the OR was noisy, he experienced nurse and I put out my hand, at hand and essential conversations. difficulties filtering out some of they know what’s going on in the the sounds which would allow An anaesthetic consultant described operation, they know what I need, him to concentrate on the surgical filtering out some sounds during the so it is really nice not to ask and procedure. induction of anaesthesia phase while sometimes when it is loud you rely on that more. I have a tendency to she observed an anaesthetic trainee mumble as well. … So that comes induce the patient. The consultant with working together for a while, explained that she did not listen to sounds unrelated to the anaesthetic e-30 Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au
phase of the procedure, such as presence of experienced OR health occupational noise-induced hearing the call bell, which enabled her to professionals. loss to occur3,35. However, a study communicate effectively with the undertaking audiometry testing of 22 The arrangement of equipment in trainee. The anaesthetist recalled: senior orthopaedic surgeons, found the OR was dictated by the type of 11 of them had some degree of noise- I will watch the [anaesthetic surgery, door position, power and induced hearing loss but not of a trainee] do a whole induction … services outlets, and anaesthetist degree to be classified as deafness38. without noticing the [call bell] and surgeon’s preferences. Surgical Another study undertook audiometry going off. You are tuned into specialties need an OR of an testing of 18 health professionals, different things … We all ignore appropriate size for the equipment from a range of ages and types, who certain noises that don’t bother us required and number of health worked in orthopaedic surgery39. and are tuned to noises that do. professionals involved in the surgery. This study found the exposure (AC5) If the equipment used for the surgery was insufficient to pose a danger resulted in lack of space in the OR, A surgical trainee recalled to hearing, and no noise-induced then the circulating nurse may not disregarding some sounds unrelated hearing loss was present in any be able to stand near the instrument to his role during the surgical of the participants. Moreover, the nurse to communicate quietly. procedure, such as the oxygen studies investigating hearing loss in Instead, the conversations occur with saturation alert tone. By not listening oral faciomaxillary and urological raised voices across the obstructing to the unrelated sounds, he was able surgeons found they were not equipment. The noise emitted by to concentrate on the procedure and exposed to noise levels shown to some equipment has been identified communicate effectively with the result in hearing loss36,37. in past research14 as contributing surgeon and instrument nurse. to communication failure. Past Rather than experiencing a research found failure to meet hearing loss, health professionals Discussion surgeons’ expectations of positioning may become less tolerant of the This research explored how noise and choice of equipment resulted noise levels in the OR, especially affected communication between in breakdown of communication considering the complex cognitive health professionals in the operating between the surgeon and other tasks that they undertake. Past room. Health professionals struggled health professionals24. However, research showed that health to communicate effectively when the in a study of how perioperative professionals experienced OR was noisy, revealing barriers to nurses’ practice was governed, diminished ability to communicate effective communication including nurses became more familiar with with the noise levels present in positioning of health professionals, the surgeons’ requirements for the OR, regardless of whether they hearing difficulties in noisy ORs, and each type of procedure as they were undertaking an activity or being unable to filter out sounds. gained experience working with not13. Furthermore, communication Due to the presence of noise, health them. Through this knowledge, the was more likely to breakdown if a professionals used facilitators of perioperative nurses were able to health professional was undertaking communication including non-verbal try different arrangements of the complex cognitive tasks, such as gestures and filtering out some equipment to overcome the barriers those undertaken in the OR, while conversations and noise emitted by to effective communication posed by communicating in the presence of equipment. However, restrictions the equipment34. noise13. existed for when it was possible to Health professionals reported For health professionals to be able use these facilitators. Non-verbal experiencing difficulties hearing to use non-verbal gestures as an gestures were an effective means conversations when the OR was effective means of communication of communication when recipients noisy; however, this may not in noisy ORs, their colleagues understood the meaning of the necessarily be due to any hearing needed to be aware of the meanings gestures and the context in which deficit. Past research on hearing of the gestures as well as the they were being used. Filtering out difficulties among orthopaedic, context in which they are used. If irrelevant conversations was also an urological and oral faciomaxillary the instrument nurse can see the effective facilitator of communication surgeons3,35–37 found mixed results. surgical field and is familiar with the when the noise levels were not Orthopaedic surgeons were exposed surgery, then hand gestures used elevated or if filtering occurred in the to noise levels over the threshold by the surgeon may be an effective level and exposure time required for means of communication. In an Journal of Perioperative Nursing Volume 34 Number 2 Spring 2021 acorn.org.au e-31
observational study of the transfer include multiple sites to expand by the judicious use of non-verbal of objects between the instrument these findings and provide further communication. nurse and the surgeon during insight into the barriers to and surgical procedures40, the use of non- facilitators of communication in the Acknowledgements verbal gestures by the surgeon was presence of noise in the OR. Funding of this research was an effective means of communication supported by a research grant when they could be observed by the Implications for practice from the Australian College of instrument nurse. This finding was A number of implications for practice Perioperative Nurses (ACORN). The confirmed by another study that have been derived from this research, author would like to thank the health found the recipient of the gestures relating to positioning of equipment professionals working at the research needed to be able to see them in the OR, the use of non-verbal site and ACORN for their support of as they occurred41. Despite these gestures, and consideration of this research. The author would also restrictions, participants recounted inexperienced health professionals like to acknowledge the support of situations where the use of non- and their inability to filter the sounds. this research through the Australian verbal gestures were an effective The positioning of equipment in the Government Research Training method of communication without OR is influenced by many factors Program Scholarship. contributing to the sound levels in a and impacts the team of health noisy OR. professionals. 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