Nontechnical Coaching in Academic Surgical Practice–Where Do We Stand and What's Next?

Abstract

Objective

To evaluate the potential of nontechnical coaching (NC) as an intervention to enhance professional development, reduce burnout, and improve patient outcomes among attending academic surgeons (AS) in high-pressure surgical environments.

Design

A narrative review was performed using PubMed to identify and assess studies focused on NC in academic surgery. We evaluated articles addressing the impact, benefits, risks, and barriers associated with NC, with particular attention to coaching frameworks, training programs, and participant feedback.

SETTING

The review encompasses research conducted in various academic surgical settings.

PARTICIPANTS

Studies primarily involved attending academic surgeons across diverse surgical specialties, especially those experiencing high levels of burnout and decreased job satisfaction.

Results

Findings indicate that NC offers several benefits for AS. Pilot studies and qualitative surveys suggest that NC can reduce burnout, enhance intraoperative decision-making, and improve patient engagement. Surgeons who participated in NC reported better stress management, increased self-awareness, and improved leadership skills. Moreover, NC appears to foster enhanced team dynamics and, in some cases, may yield fiscal benefits by reducing surgical errors and increasing operational efficiency. However, significant barriers to NC adoption remain, including cultural resistance within surgical departments, time constraints, and concerns regarding the efficacy of NC compared to traditional technical coaching. Additionally, the current evidence is limited by small sample sizes, selection bias, and a lack of standardized, quantitative measures.

Conclusion

Preliminary evidence supports NC as a promising intervention for enhancing surgeon well-being and patient outcomes. Future research should focus on establishing standardized guidelines for coach training, addressing misconceptions about NC, and designing larger, methodologically robust studies using validated outcomes. Expanding NC could foster a more resilient surgical workforce, ultimately benefiting both surgeons and patients through improved engagement, satisfaction, and quality of care.