Resident hesitation in the operating room: does uncertainty equal incompetence?

Ott M, Schwartz A, Goldszmidt M, Bordage G, Lingard L. Med Educ. 2018;52:851-860.

This observation and interview study examined instances of surgical trainees hesitating in the operating room. Both trainees and attending physicians interpreted hesitation as incompetence. The authors suggest that this interpretation of hesitation does not support progressive autonomy for trainees and must be addressed in order to promote surgical safety.

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