Culture, Silence and Voice: The Implications for Patient Safety in the Operating Theatre

Abstract

Team culture is an important antecedent to safety behaviours such as speaking up. A positive safety culture in the operating theatre has been linked to fewer adverse events. Psychological safety, a component of safety culture, is the belief that the team is safe to take risks such as raising concerns. Power dynamics can influence active speaking up behaviour or ‘voice’. When theatre team members chose to remain silent rather than voice concerns this can be a protective or defensive strategy rather than passive inactivity.