Human factors - do we all speak the same language?

NMUH Staff Publications

EMBASE

123

<span style="font-size: 10pt;">Introduction Human factors ensure safe working environment is created for best patient care in various situations experienced in clinic practice. Aim of this study is to analyse variations in perception of human factors between a developed (UK) and developing countries (DC); namely Pakistan and Indonesia. This will set the cornerstones in developing educational programmes using the British model in those countries. Methods Total of 33 British and 40 doctors from DC took part in the survey. Results 85% of British and 40% of doctors from DC were junior trainees in first two years of training. Majority of UK doctors had a multifactorial approach to definition of human factors, while doctors from DC had a single outlook which was 'environmental, organisational and individual factors which influence behaviour at work'. For most of the UK trainees, combination of skills was necessary for achieving safety in theatre, while two thirds of their peers deemed 'technical skills' as most important. A high proportion of UK trainees disagreed that blood-loss-estimation in an emergency was improved by increasing seniority. A similar proportion of doctors from DC thought the opposite. Almost all UK doctors disagreed with total obedience to their seniors compared with 70% of their counterparts. All doctors across countries agreed that non-technical skills training should be offered and assessed during their training. Conclusion This study shows that language of doctors from UK and DC is different when talking about human factors. The perception British trainees in perception of human factors is more diversified and open while the DC trainees tend to have a more rigid and hierarchical approach. What would be interesting to know is if other factors such as gender and age effect the results, which will be included in the next stage of our project from around the world. </span>