WithdrawnNot Applicable

Developing an Intervention to Improve the Non-Technical Skills of the Cardiac Surgical Teams

Stopped: Researcher left university before the start of recruitment

0Started 2025-06

Plain-language summary

Teams of several medical professionals conduct high-risk cardiac surgical procedures. These professionals work in complex, stressful operating room environments requiring effective communication and teamwork skills. Surgeons, anesthesiologists, perfusionists, nurses, and surgical technicians working in this environment are also vulnerable to human errors. Non-technical skills for surgeons (NOTSS), defined as cognitive skills (situation awareness, decision making) and social skills (leadership, communication, and teamwork) underpinning medical knowledge and technical skills, are essential contributors to better cardiac surgery outcomes. Yet most of the surgical education programs focus only on technical skills, and interventions to improve the non-technical skills of cardiac surgical teams are scarce. The proposed research will develop and pilot-test and evaluate the preliminary effectiveness of an intervention to improve the non-technical skills of cardiac surgical teams.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * All members of the cardiac surgical teams will be eligible to participate in the study (cardiac surgeons, OR nurses, perfusionists, anesthetists... Exclusion Criteria: * Clinicians who are not directly involved in intraoperative care of cardiac surgical patients ( for example nurses working only in the recovery room, ICU, floor)

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Non-technical skills behaviors of the members of the cardiac surgical teams

Timeframe: Non-technical skills will be measured before the intervention, immediately after the intervention, and six months after the intervention

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06257511

SponsorNorthwestern University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2030-06

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