Introduction Existing evidence shows that many medical errors are avoidable and a systematic approach using safety checks such as the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist can reduce adverse events.¹ Research within high-risk industries has illustrated that errors with significant impact on safety often relate to non-technical skills (NTS) rather than technical ability. By focusing on the key NTS in Endoscopy, we hypothesise that team function² will be enhanced, patient safety improved and errors reduced.

Methods Current safety practices in Endoscopy were evaluated prospectively via (1) Assessment of current safety checks and (2) Analysis of safety enhancing NTS (ie, behaviours), based on a pilot study. Behaviours deemed to be “safety checks” (SC) that impact positively on patient care were determined by expert consensus. Endoscopists were observed and their checking behaviours assessed by two independent clinical observers: (1–4 scale, 4 = “gold standard” SC of “cross checking” with a colleague, 1= no discernible attempt to perform an SC). Endoscopists NTS were assessed quantitatively (1–4 scale) using a validated framework.³ In addition any errors, near misses or adverse events (AE) were qualitatively recorded for each procedure.

Results 22 lists were observed and 90 procedures analysed from a representative sample of 16 Endoscopists. In total 1218 opportunities to perform a safety check were identified. The “gold standard check” was only performed in 9% of instances. In 37% of episodes no check was completed. Endoscopists and nurses performed similar checks separately, often without communication. ENTS scores varied, (mode=3, min=1 max=4). Endoscopists scoring higher on NTS were more likely to perform safety checks (correlation coefficient r=0.82 p≤0.001). 41 safety incidents were observed and 27% occurred in the lists where the Endoscopist scored an NTS of 1 or 2 and 0% occurred in those with an NTS of 4.

Conclusion This study demonstrates wide variability in safety checks and non-technical skills in Endoscopy. There appears to be a relationship between robust safety checks and good NTS. Further research should focus on the relationship between technical (DOPS) and non-technical (ENTS) skills and whether training in NTS for Endoscopists can reduce adverse events and improve their safety behaviour.

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Abstract PTU-224 Figure 1

Endoscopic non-technical skills (ENTS) vs safety check (SC) scores.

Competing interests M Matharoo Grant/Research Support from: This group has received funding from the NHS Bowel Cancer Screening Research Programme for development of non-technical skills awareness & team training, Conflict with: The Freemasons Grand Charity, A Haycock: None declared, N Sevdalis: None declared, S Thomas-Gibson: None declared.

References 1. Haynes, et al. A Surgical Safety Checklist to Reduce Morbidity & Mortality in a Global Population. NEJM 2009:360

2. Haycock, et al. Effective teamworking in gastroenterology. Frontline Gastroenterology 2012.

3. Haycock. Enhancing Professional behaviour in gastrointestinal endoscopy: development of a behavioural marker tool for assessment of ENTS. Gut 2010;59.