Human factors in obstetrics

The importance of human factors is becoming increasingly recognized in the healthcare profession. Lack of situational awareness, poor communication and inadequate leadership compounded by unfamiliar teams in a rapidly deteriorating clinical situation put obstetric patients at particular risk. There is much to be learnt from other high-risk industries including aviation and the military. Increasing awareness and training in human factors and utilization of communication tools (such as SBAR) and prompts (including emergency checklists) can help to promote a safer environment.