Surgeons cut through challenges faster – but some colourful language often accompanies this!
In a study that proves surgeons don’t just have steady hands but also quick reflexes, researchers found that surgeons excelled at completing a wire loop game faster and more successfully than other hospital staff.
However, they were also more prone to swearing under pressure – a trait not uncommon in highly stressed operating room environments.
The festive study, published in the Christmas issue of The BMJ, aimed to compare dexterity and composure among 254 hospital staff: 60 physicians, 64 surgeons, 69 nurses, and 61 non-clinical personnel.
Using a buzz wire game, participants navigated a looped wand along a twisted wire without triggering the buzzer – requiring both speed and precision.
If the loop touched the wire at any point, a buzzer sounded, and the participant had to return to the start. Instructions were standardised, and no practice attempts were permitted.
Audible expressions of frustration, such as sighs, groans and mutters, or swearing (defined as any word unsuitable for broadcast before 9.00pm on UK TV according to Ofcom’s list of offensive language) were recorded.
The results?
- 84% of surgeons completed the task within five minutes (versus 57% of physicians, 54% of nurses, and 51% of non-clinical staff).
- Surgeons averaged a lightning-fast 89 seconds, easily surpassing physicians (120 seconds), nurses (135 seconds) and non-clinical staff (161 seconds).
But surgeons also led the pack in swearing, with 50% unleashing expletives during the challenge. Nurses followed at 30%, physicians at 25% and non-clinical staff at 23%.
Meanwhile, non-clinical staff topped the charts for audible frustration (75%).
For surgeons, the study adds weight to the idea that dexterity and quick thinking are just part of the job.
The authors suggest this superior performance might stem from innate ability or years of training under pressure.
They also stress that these are observational findings and point out that people with previous experience or who consider themselves more dexterous may have been more likely to participate.
Other unmeasured factors, such as prevailing stress, fatigue and caffeine consumption, might also have affected performance.
They comment that ‘future training might benefit from incorporating family games to enhance dexterity and stress management across all specialties’.
Ultimately, the study’s conclusion lands with a playful challenge: ‘Implementation of a surgical swear jar initiative should be considered for future fundraising events.’
