TPT 6.10 Shared Decision-Making as a Protective Factor in Surgical Adverse Events

Abstract Aims Adverse events can have a significant impact on the well-being of surgeons. These events can affect their confidence and change how they make decisions. Shared decision-making is traditionally viewed as a mechanism to enhance patient autonomy. However, its potential role in mitigating the psychological burden on surgeons following complications remains under-explored. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twenty-seven surgeons (17 consultants, 10 registrars) recruited by purposive sampling. The data were analysed using the framework method of qualitative analysis to identify factors that influence how surgeons experience adverse events. Results Participants indicated that ensuring patients fully understood the potential risks of surgery, facilitated through clear documentation and relatable language, reduced the feelings of personal culpability when adverse events occurred. Multidisciplinary team (MDT) meetings and high-risk anaesthetic clinics further support this by providing peer validation and a collective approach to risk. By framing a procedure as a joint choice between the patient and a broader clinical team, surgeons reported that the "emotional burden of decision making" was distributed. This led to more constructive patient interactions after the adverse event and helped reduce the clinician's feelings of individual failure. Conclusion Shared decision making is an important tool for surgeon well-being as well as patient autonomy. By involving patients and multidisciplinary colleagues in the decision-making process, the impact of adverse events on the individual surgeon is reduced.