GENDER AND STATUS DIFFERENCES IN LOQUACIOUSNESS WITHIN TRAUMA TEAMS: EXPLORING CLOSED-LOOP COMMUNICATION

Abstract

This study investigated if gender and status can predict how verbal trauma personnel will be, and if these gender and status differences in the level of loquaciousness can affect the communication between trauma team members and the success of the trauma team. A total of 65 trauma teams, which comprise 721 trauma personnel, from a hospital in Singapore were observed when they were treating a trauma patient. The trauma personnel were split into two groups for gender (male and female) and two groups for status (team leader and team member). The conversations that transpired between the trauma personnel during the trauma cases were recorded and coded, using the Closed-loop communication model, which measures an individual’s level of talkativeness and likelihood of using careful and controlled verbal messages that can reduce the risk of miscommunication and medical errors. The Closed-loop communication model used in this study was expanded to include action-based Check-backs. Three multiple linear regressions were conducted to compare the rate of Closed-loop communication usage, the rate of Closed-loop usage following a verbal Check-back, and the rate of Closed-loop usage following an action-based Check-back. According to the results, male trauma personnel were more verbal than their female counterparts, as they had greater rates of Closed-loop communication usage and Closed-loop usage following a verbal Check-back. However, there was no significant difference in the rate of Closed-loop communication usage between trauma team leaders and trauma team members.