Description

The Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire (OTHFQ) is an assessment tool designed to evaluate human factors that influence performance and safety within the operating theatre environment.

The questionnaire focuses on the role of human behavior, communication, organization, and teamwork during surgical procedures, recognizing that these factors significantly contribute to the effectiveness and safety of surgical care.

The OTHFQ is particularly relevant in healthcare research, surgical safety improvement programs, and quality management initiatives within operating theatre settings.

Data Analysis and Use

Data collected through the OTHFQ can be used to evaluate human factors associated with surgical team performance and patient safety.

Participants assess different aspects of the operating theatre environment using Likert scales or other measurement scales. The resulting scores are used to analyze human factors and identify areas requiring improvement within the surgical environment.

Statistical analysis may include descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, and comparisons between different professional groups within the operating theatre, such as surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, and other healthcare professionals.

The results can support interventions aimed at improving communication, teamwork, organization, and safety culture in surgical environments.

Objective

The primary objective of the Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire (OTHFQ) is to identify and analyze factors related to human performance, communication, organization, and collaboration during surgical procedures.

The questionnaire aims to provide information that can contribute to improving operating theatre practices, reducing risks associated with human error, and enhancing patient safety.

Structure and Content

The OTHFQ evaluates key human factors within the operating theatre environment.

The main areas assessed include:

Human behavior during surgical procedures.

Communication effectiveness among members of the surgical team.

Organization and coordination of activities.

Collaboration and teamwork among healthcare professionals.

These dimensions allow a comprehensive evaluation of factors that influence surgical performance and safety.

Scoring

Participants evaluate different aspects of the operating theatre environment using Likert-type scales or other measurement formats.

The total score is used to assess overall human factors within the surgical environment and to identify possible areas for improvement.

Higher scores may indicate more favorable perceptions of human factors, teamwork, and safety-related practices, depending on the scoring direction of the specific version applied.

Statistical Analysis

Statistical evaluation of the OTHFQ may include descriptive analysis to examine the overall perception of human factors in surgical teams.

Reliability analysis can be conducted to evaluate internal consistency among questionnaire items, while correlation and comparative analyses may examine relationships between human factors and indicators of surgical safety, teamwork, and professional characteristics.

The scale can also support quality improvement research by identifying organizational and communication factors associated with surgical performance.

Validity

The validity of the OTHFQ is supported by its theoretical foundation in human factors research and patient safety science.

The questionnaire focuses on established contributors to safe surgical practice, including communication, teamwork, organization, and human behavior within complex healthcare environments.

Its application is consistent with international approaches emphasizing the importance of human factors in reducing errors and improving healthcare quality.

Reliability

The available document does not provide specific reliability coefficients, such as Cronbach’s alpha or test–retest reliability values.

Reliability assessment should be performed when applying the OTHFQ within specific healthcare populations through internal consistency analysis and other appropriate psychometric procedures.

References

Carney, B. T., & Cummings, K. (2014). Human factors in the operating room: What can we learn from aviation? Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 218(3), 434–440.

Berg, B. W., & Haggstrom, J. T. (2009). Improving patient safety: Human factors in the operating room. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 103(4), 573–580.

Catchpole, K., & Gibbison, B. (2010). The role of human factors in surgical error. In Improving Patient Safety and Quality in Surgery (pp. 68–82). Springer.

Wiegmann, D. A., & Shappell, S. A. (2003). A Human Error Approach to Aviation Accident Analysis: The Human Factors Analysis and Classification System. Ashgate Publishing.

Pronovost, P., & Berenholtz, S. (2008). Improving surgical safety: A review of the literature. Anesthesiology, 108(5), 759–767.