Dynamics of an orthopaedic team: Insights to improve teamwork through a design thinking approach.
E Caprari, J T Porsius, P D'Olivo and 4 others
PMID 30223410WHAT IT FOUND
Staff in one orthopaedic unit described fragmented handovers, hierarchy hindering nurse input, and stress from ward mergers.
They suggested shared screens and empathy-building shadowing. These are proposed ideas, not tested interventions, so do not change practice based on this alone.
Key findings
01Nurses and residents reported that multitasking during daily rounds, such as switching between paper notes and digital screens, caused cognitive overload and fragmented communication.
02Some nurses felt hierarchy prevented them from sharing patient observations, noting that doctors often overlooked how patients felt because of time pressure.
03Staff identified specific opportunities for improvement, including using shared digital screens to reduce multitasking and having residents shadow nurses to build empathy.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study took place in a single hospital with a small sample of 26 people, so the findings may not apply to other settings. The proposed interventions, such as shared screens and shadowing programmes, were suggested by the researchers but have not been tested for effectiveness. The study describes perceptions and observed behaviours but does not measure patient outcomes or safety events directly.
Declared interests
The authors have no conflict of interest to report.
The easy way to misread this
Do not implement the suggested teamwork tools, such as shared screens or shadowing programmes, expecting proven improvements in safety or efficiency. These are design proposals derived from qualitative observations in one hospital, not evidence-based interventions tested in a clinical trial.