ABSTRACT
Operating room staff experience significant problems within operating rooms (OR) in relation to functionality, working conditions and efficiency. Two questionnaire surveys of working conditions administered to surgeons and OR nurses at the German Surgical Society's armual conferences in 2004 and 2005. Response rates of 11.7% for surgeons (n=425 respondents) and 54.3 for OR nurses (n=190) were achieved. Real data of OR processes have been collected an put into a simulation software, which provides workt1ow analysis conccming ground floor and personnel. Respondents of the questionnaires reported problems with the use of devices leading to hazards and risks for employees and patients. 70% of surgeons and 50% of nurses reported difficulties operating medical devices. Thus more than 40% were involved in situations of potential danger for staff or the patients. Recovery rooms, though available, were often not in use for this purpose due to missing equipment or staff shortages. The analysis of the real clinical processes visualized the insufficient usage ofrooms and personnel. The efficiency of the OR could be increased by a better architecture
but need a more flexible employment of staff and the improvement of medical as well as building technology. These micro-and macro-ergonomic hazards appear to relate to inadequate integration between differing aspects of OR workflow, and the lack of cost-benefit analysis.
