Communication, teamwork, and the role of non-technical skills in Urology: A review by the European School of Urology

IF 2.7 3区医学 Q2 UROLOGY & NEPHROLOGY

Asian Journal of Urology Pub Date : 2025-10-01 Epub Date: 2025-04-09 DOI:10.1016/j.ajur.2024.12.005

Mahir Akram , Bhaskar Somani , Evangelos Liatsikos , Vineet Gauhar , Steffi Kar Kei Yuen , Arnulf Stenzl

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

While technical operating skills and clinical knowledge are often the goals of surgical training, for overall competency, the required skill set goes far beyond these. Social and cognitive abilities in the form of non-technical skills (NTS) are indispensable competencies that complement a surgeon's procedural efficiency and contribute towards patient safety. The NTS are classified into three unique groups: cognitive (decision-making and situational awareness), social (leadership, teamwork, and communication), and personal resource factors (an individual's ability to manage fatigue and stress). Inadequacy in the aforementioned is often the underlying cause of detrimental operating room outcomes and surgical errors universally.

Methods

This review looks at various components of NTS and evaluation tools currently in use, their importance in urological training, and the need to introduce a formal programme. This would not only complement technical skills, but also serve as an integral and mandatory part of training years for all grades of urologists.

Results

Assessment of NTS through comprehensively validated rating tools allows for the evaluation of skills and therefore finds room for improvement in competencies. Commonly used systems include the Non-Technical Skills for Surgeons (NOTSS), Non-Technical Skills (NOTECHS), and Observational Teamwork Assessment for Surgery (OTAS).

Conclusion

The significance of associating team culture with the safety of surgery is increasingly recognised, given that human error is unavoidable and hard to eradicate. Whilst we now have a clear definition of the NTS and their importance in surgery and the operating theatre, there is still a lack of a validated and standardised NTS training programme directed at urologists, and that is applicable to all levels, whether they be trainees or consultants. Simulation-based learning is an excellent avenue for progressing surgical education and should be taken advantage of in developing a curriculum that is mandatory for NTS training in urology.

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沟通、团队合作和非技术技能在泌尿外科中的作用：欧洲泌尿外科学院综述

虽然技术操作技能和临床知识通常是外科培训的目标，但就整体能力而言，所需的技能远不止于此。非技术技能（NTS）形式的社会和认知能力是不可或缺的能力，可以补充外科医生的手术效率并有助于患者安全。NTS分为三个独特的类别：认知（决策和态势感知）、社会（领导力、团队合作和沟通）和个人资源因素（个人管理疲劳和压力的能力）。在上述不足往往是潜在的原因，有害的手术室结果和手术错误普遍。方法本文综述了NTS的各种组成部分和目前使用的评估工具，它们在泌尿外科培训中的重要性，以及引入正式程序的必要性。这不仅是对技术技能的补充，而且也是各级泌尿科医生培训年限中不可或缺的强制性部分。结果通过全面验证的评级工具对NTS进行评估，可以评估技能，从而发现能力改进的空间。常用的系统包括外科医生非技术技能（NOTSS）、非技术技能（NOTECHS）和外科观察团队评估（OTAS）。结论在人为失误不可避免且难以根除的情况下，将团队文化与手术安全联系起来的重要性日益得到认可。虽然我们现在对NTS及其在外科和手术室中的重要性有了明确的定义，但仍然缺乏针对泌尿科医生的有效和标准化的NTS培训计划，该计划适用于所有级别，无论是培训生还是顾问。基于模拟的学习是推进外科教育的一个很好的途径，应该在开发泌尿外科NTS培训的强制性课程中加以利用。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Asian Journal of Urology UROLOGY & NEPHROLOGY-

CiteScore

4.00

自引率

3.80%

发文量

100

审稿时长

4 weeks

期刊介绍： Asian Journal of Urology (AJUR), launched in October 2014, is an international peer-reviewed Open Access journal jointly founded by Shanghai Association for Science and Technology (SAST) and Second Military Medical University (SMMU). AJUR aims to build a communication platform for international researchers to effectively share scholarly achievements. It focuses on all specialties of urology both scientifically and clinically, with article types widely covering editorials, opinions, perspectives, reviews and mini-reviews, original articles, cases reports, rapid communications, and letters, etc. Fields of particular interest to the journal including, but not limited to: • Surgical oncology • Endourology • Calculi • Female urology • Erectile dysfunction • Infertility • Pediatric urology • Renal transplantation • Reconstructive surgery • Radiology • Pathology • Neurourology.