Doctorate in Clinical Psychology Research Project

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Cardiothoracic Doctors, we want to hear your voice!

12 December 2023

Dear Colleagues,

Shinal Patel-Thakkar, who is a final-year trainee Clinical Psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire, is undertaking an important project. Her thesis will be exploring psychological safety within acute healthcare, with a specific focus on cardiothoracic surgery.

 

Psychological safety is a vital element in the transformative process necessary for organisational growth and adaptation (and has been shown to improve patient safety). It serves to diminish perceived threats, dismantle barriers to change, and establish an environment essential for individuals to form meaningful attachments and become fully engaged in their roles, thus fostering positive cultural shifts in the workplace.

 

Operating theatres have been described as complex, multiprofessional (often tribal) environments that can represent a microchosm of the challenges facing the NHS. Doctors hold a pivotal role in both driving change and upholding the values of workplace culture. Given the complexity and high-risk nature of cardiothoracic surgery, it is particularly beneficial to gain insight into the perspective of its doctors, regarding the establishment of a psychologically safe environment.  

 

As such, this study aims to engage in conversations with doctors to understand how they conceptualise psychological safety, the key factors they perceive are required for a psychologically safe workplace, and the strategies they believe can be employed to cultivate this phenomenon in their professional settings.

 

If you are interested in participating, please refer to the attached recruitment poster for details, and do not hesitate to reach out should you have any further questions. 

Many thanks,

Sunil Bhudia

Clinical Director Harefield Hospital and Consultant Cardiac Surgeon

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