An ethnographic study examining attending surgeon persona in the operating room and influence on interprofessional team action

Abstract

Abstract Background Interprofessional surgical teams must have the ability to cross boundaries. Goffman's theory of performance in the everyday is useful for the multiple personae that attending surgeons assume within the surgical environment and impact on team function. Purpose To examine the effect of attending surgeon personae on surgical team action. Methods The study used direct observation of ten surgeries. Field notes were transcribed, discussed, and iteratively coded using directed content analysis. Results Shifts in personae by attending surgeons altered the behaviors and actions of surgical team members often leading to professional boundary crossing. Discussion The surgical environment informs team action. The personae established by attending surgeons informs team member behaviors, actions and interactions. Conclusion A lens of dramaturgy is useful for understanding the dynamics and various actions of surgical team members. Attending surgeons need to be more mindful about the personae they assume and the impact on team member function.