Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire
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About Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire
Scale Name
Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire
Author Details
O’Connor, P., Ryan, S., & Keogh, I.
Translation Availability
Not Sure

Background/Description
The Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire was developed by O’Connor, Ryan, and Keogh (2012) to assess critical factors in the operating theatre environment, particularly those impacting teamwork, communication, and situational awareness. Designed to evaluate attitudes and knowledge related to human factors within high-stakes environments, the questionnaire compares teamwork attitudes in medical and military settings, such as those of Irish surgeons and U.S. Naval aviators. This tool highlights important attributes for optimizing performance and minimizing errors in healthcare, especially within surgical settings.
The Operating theatre human factors questionnaire is developed by O’Connor, Keogh, & Ryan. The questionnaire help in the assessment of the attitudes and knowledge of surgeons to various aspects of human factors and team working. The Operating Theatre human factors questionnaire is based upon the Naval Aviator Human Factors Questionnaire and a human factors knowledge questionnaire designed for U.S Naval aviation.
The questionnaire consists of 23 attitude items and eight knowledge questions. The attitude items are divided into four sub-scales: ‘my stress’ (the consideration of, and possible compensation for, stressors in oneself), ‘stress of others’ (the consideration of, and possible compensation for, stressors in other team members), ‘communication ‘(encompasses communication of intent and plans, a delegation of tasks and assignment of responsibilities, and the monitoring of team members), and ‘command responsibility’ (appropriate leadership and its implications for the delegation of tasks and responsibilities.
Three further attitude items were included that to obtain information on whether junior personnel were afraid to speak up to more senior personnel, and whether adequate pre- and post-operative team briefs were conducted (the latter two questions were only asked of the surgeons).
The eight-item multiple-choice knowledge test was developed to address teamwork issues that have been identified as causal to accidents in aviation (situation awareness, decision making, communication, stress, and fatigue). However, as described in the introduction, these teamwork issues also contribute to poor performance and sentinel events in a surgical environment.
As the questionnaire was initially developed for use with naval aviators, two surgeons checked, and where necessary adapted, the language so that it was not aviation-specific (e.g. aircrew was changed to team member).
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- The questionnaire is ideal for healthcare professionals working in operating theatres, especially surgeons, anesthetists, nurses, and support staff.
- It can be administered individually or in group settings and requires a conducive environment to minimize distractions.
- Participants respond to statements related to teamwork, communication, and situational awareness on a Likert-type scale, typically ranging from “strongly disagree” to “strongly agree.”
- The questionnaire takes approximately 15–20 minutes to complete.
Reliability and Validity
- Reliability: The questionnaire has demonstrated strong internal consistency, particularly in studies comparing the attitudes and knowledge of professionals in medical and military environments. The internal consistency of the attitude survey subscales was found to be comparable to that of questionnaires of this type (the Cronbach’s alpha scores for the surgeon sample ranged from 0.41 to 0.66).
- Validity: Construct validity was established through comparisons between surgeons and U.S. Naval aviators, confirming the tool’s relevance and effectiveness in high-stakes operational settings.
Available Versions
Multiple-Items
Reference
O’Connor, P., Ryan, S., & Keogh, I. (2012). A comparison of the teamwork attitudes and knowledge of Irish surgeons and US Naval aviators. the surgeon, 10(5), 278-282.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can use the Operating Theatre Human Factors Questionnaire?
It is used by healthcare professionals working in operating theatre environments, including surgeons and supporting staff.
What does the questionnaire assess?
It evaluates teamwork, communication, and situational awareness, essential for performance in high-stress settings.
Is it only for use in healthcare?
While designed for healthcare, the questionnaire has also been applied to military settings, underscoring its versatility for various high-stakes environments.
How long does it take to complete?
Approximately 15–20 minutes.
What is the benefit of using this tool?
It helps in identifying strengths and areas for improvement in teamwork and communication, ultimately enhancing patient safety and performance.
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