Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
4195319 | Annals of Medicine and Surgery | 2015 | 6 Pages |
•The volume of surgical procedures is increasing.•Technical skills have come under increased scrutiny, alongside a realisation of the importance of non-technical skills.•Non-technical skills include situational awareness, decision making, communication, teamwork and leadership.•Further research is required to demonstrate the mechanism linking impaired non-technical skills and patient harm.
Non-technical skills are of increasing importance in surgery and surgical training. A traditional focus on technical skills acquisition and competence is no longer enough for the delivery of a modern, safe surgical practice. This review discusses the importance of non-technical skills and the values that underpin successful modern surgical practice.This narrative review used a number of sources including written and online, there was no specific search strategy of defined databases. Modern surgical practice requires; technical and non-technical skills, evidence-based practice, an emphasis on lifelong learning, monitoring of outcomes and a supportive institutional and health service framework. Finally these requirements need to be combined with a number of personal and professional values including integrity, professionalism and compassionate, patient-centred care.