Table 2

Task classifications for the surgical team

Task categories and subcategories	Definitions	Included activities
Pre-indirect care	Tasks indirectly related to patient care prior to patient arrival.
Disinfect		Preoperative hand washing/disinfection.
Organise/arrange		Preparing equipment.
Control/Count		Checking equipment, counting instruments and swabs.
Read		Reading/searching patient information.
Clean		Arranging and cleaning.
Protect		Applying sterile gown, gloves and apron.
Intra-indirect care	Tasks indirectly related to patient care, when the patient is present.
Observe/monitor		Monitoring patients’ vital parameters.
Disinfect		Hand washing/disinfection.
Organise/arrange		Preparing equipment.
Control/count		Controlling equipment, counting instruments and swabs.
Read		Reading and reviewing patient information.
Clean		Arranging and cleaning.
Protect		Applying protective apron or gloves.
Direct care	Tasks directly related to patient care.
Skin disinfection		Disinfecting the incision area, including drying time.
Drape		Draping the patient.
Assist		Assisting another professional.
Instrumentation		Instrumentation with surgeon.
Perform invasive surgical/anaesthetic procedures		Performing the procedure/intubation and inserting intravenous lines.
Perform patient care		Communicating with the patient, mobilising of the patient, dressing the wound and moving the patient to the bed.
Medication	Tasks related to providing medication to a patient.
Prepare		Reading prescriptions and preparing syringes.
Administer		Giving medication to the patient.
Document		Documenting medication care.
Communicate		Discussing medication care and prescriptions and asking for clarification.
Documentation	Any recording of patient information on paper or computer.
Communication	Any work-related or social discussion with another staff member.
Professional		Discussions related to the procedure, planning the care of the patient, paging surgeon or anaesthesiologist, reporting and completing the WHO checklist.
Irrelevant		Case-irrelevant communication.
Supervision	Any activity focused on teaching or education.	(Note: when supervision is taking place, all other tasks are ‘multitasking’.)
Other	Any other task not included above.	For example: waiting for a colleague or a decision, when there is no communication.
In transit	Any movement between rooms.	Transferring the patient into and out of the room. Getting equipment needed.