Development and validation of a novel tool for identification and categorization of non-technical errors associated with surgical mortality.

Background: Up to half of all surgical adverse events are due to non-technical errors, making non-technical skill assessment and improvement a priority. No specific tools are available to retrospectively identify non-technical errors that have occurred in surgical patient care. This original study aimed to develop and provide evidence of validity and inter-rater reliability for the System for Identification and Categorization of Non-technical Error in Surgical Settings (SICNESS).

Improving communication and patient information recall via a question prompt list: randomized clinical trial.

Background: Patient-surgeon communication is an important component of the success of a consultation and is known to impact patient outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a document called a question prompt list, containing suggested questions that a patient may like to ask their doctor, improved communication.

Methods: A prospective RCT was conducted from October 2021 to October 2022 at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Adelaide, Australia.