EXPLORING CHALLENGES FACED BY OT PERSONNEL IN OPERATION THEATER AT TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Abstract

Background and Objectives: In a tertiary care hospital, the operating room (OT) is a high-stress environment where employees face problems such stress, burnout, poor communication, limited resources, and ergonomic concerns. These problems can affect both staff and patient safety. This study, which was carried out at the Ghurki Teaching Trust Hospital in Lahore, intends to determine the main difficulties that the OT staff encounter, evaluate the effectiveness of cooperation and communication in resolving these difficulties, analyze the sufficiency of available resources, and investigate stress and burnout levels. These results offer a thorough grasp of the elements influencing well-being and performance in the OT environment. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted over 3–4 months at Ghurki Teaching Trust Hospital, Lahore, involving 150 OT staff (surgeons, nurses technicians, supporting stuff and technologists) selected through convenient sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering workload, stress, communication barriers, burnout, resource availability, teamwork, and training. Analysis was performed using SPSS version 25 with Chi-Square tests applied to assess variable relationships at a 0.05 significance level and 95% confidence interval Results: Among 150 OT staff, most were female nurses under 45. Key issues included stress (52.7%), burnout (60.7%), and equipment problems (66.7% sterilization, 60% failures). Half reported communication and hierarchy challenges. While many felt supported (60.7%) and involved (55.3%), gaps in stress training and resource adequacy persist, affecting well-being and efficiency. Conclusion: This study highlights key challenges faced by OT staff at Ghurki Hospital, including stress, burnout, communication gaps, and resource limitations. Addressing these issues through better support, training, and communication can enhance staff well-being and patient care