Development of a surgical sabermetrics model
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development of a surgical sabermetrics model incorporating objective physiological measurements to improve surgical performance and patient safety
IRAS ID
291572
Contact name
Emma E Howie
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Edinburgh
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Good surgical performance is dependent on the interplay between the surgeons technical/operative skills and their non-technical skills(NTS). NTS are “the cognitive and social skills that underpin knowledge and expertise in high demand workplaces” . Poor NTS is linked to poor surgical performance and a negative impact on quality of care for patients. This study is part of the development of a new area of surgery: surgical sabermetrics .
In sport, sabermetrics is the “detailed statistical analysis of data for the purposes of evaluating player performance and developing playing strategies.” We define surgical sabermetrics(SS) as the “advanced analysis of digitally recorded surgical training and operative procedures to enhance insight, support professional development and to optimise clinical and safety outcomes.” We will develop this field by identifying the best method for collection and analysis of objective, physiologic data relating to surgical performance.
SS has significant potential to objectively measure NTS. This study will look at a surgeons mental workload(MWL) and how this affects performance. Increased MWL and cognitive overload has a negative effect on performance. Physiological data can be used as a marker for changes to MWL, and therefore we will use surgeons physiological data to detect these changes. We hypothesise that by monitoring an individual's physiology, we can evaluate whether different stressors affect a surgeon’s mental workload during surgery.
We will observe surgeons in a simulated operating theatre, and in their real life jobs, measuring their physiological markers. External distractions or stressors will be introduced during the scenario. As these stressors affect a surgeons MWL, we will see a change in their physiology. Participants will fill in a standardised questionnaire to identify when they personally felt stressed. We hope that when the participants identified stress this will be clear in their physiology.
REC name
East Midlands - Leicester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/EM/0116
Date of REC Opinion
30 May 2022
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion