Assessment of Non-Technical Skills in Iranian Orthopedic Surgeons: An Observational Study

Non-technical skills are critical for patient safety and good surgical outcomes. Thus, surgeons should master these skills. This study aimed to assess non-technical skills among Iranian orthopedic surgeons.

This cross-sectional study was conducted in two orthopedic surgery wards in 2019. A total of 22 orthopedic surgeons were observed in this survey. The data were collected using Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS) through observing and recording events during surgeries.

“Leadership” was the best non-technical skill with score of 3.14 out of 4, while “communication and teamwork” had the lowest score (3.02 out of 4). There was a significant relationship between work experience and “projecting and anticipating future state” (P=0.009).

The studied orthopedic surgeons showed acceptable non-technical skills. However, poor behaviors were observed in some domains. Educational programs, policymaking interventions, and supervision can improve the surgeons’ non-technical skills.