Approximately 80% of anesthesiologists and perioperative nurses reported experiencing at least one head strike in the operating room or procedural room in the last year, according to a study conducted by Mass General Brigham in Boston and published in Anesthesiology Sept. 16.
The study revolves around a survey containing 22 questions and sent to 23,486 anesthesiologists and 10,684 perioperative nurses in the U.S. The only difference between the physician and nurse surveys were the options for the role group. A total of 1,549 anesthesiologists and 287 nurses participated, amounting to a response rate of 6.6% and 2.7%, respectively.
Here are seven takeaways from the study:
1. Among anesthesiologists, 78.2% reported experiencing at least one headstrike in the past year, with 15% experiencing more than five incidents.
2. Among perioperative nurses, 80.1% reported experiencing at least one head strike in the last year, with 17.4% reporting more than five incidents.
3. Monitors, light heads and mounted equipment were the most common sources of head strikes, as reported by 73.4%, 37.4% and 33.4% of respondents, respectively.
4. Intraoperative head strikes were also common, affecting 63.7% of anesthesiologists and 76.5% of nurses.
5. While head strikes rarely caused work absences, six respondents said they took medical leaves of over four weeks as a result of the incident. Perioperative nurses were more likely to report work absences following a head strike than anesthesiologists.
6. Only 4.8% of respondents who reported experiencing head strikes reported the incidents through safety systems, with barriers to reporting including a lack of knowledge as to how to file a report, time constraints and perception of minor impact.
7. Participants suggested strategies for head strike prevention that included: establishing and adhering to protocols for the timing of equipment placements; using padding to reduce risk, including padding the edges of hanging equipment. Two anesthesiologists also proposed creating a designated space for anesthesiologists.
