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The components of a good AVB are complex and layered. They go far beyond a degree of knowledge and technical ability. They encompass a range of cognitive and social skills that promote respect for women and their partners and enable an environment in which women feel safe and secure, acknowledging her rite of passage and the privilege of assisting at the birth of a new life. This chapter explores our understanding of these important ‘non-technical’ skills of a consummate accoucheur.
This chapter explains the importance of non-technical skills in obstetric practice. It describes the non-technical skills useful when conducting operative vaginal birth (OVB). Non-technical skills have been studied in surgical, anaesthetic and acute medicine domains using methodology from the aviation industry. OVB merits non-technical skills unique to this very intimate and emotive time for the mother and her birth partner. A three-tier behavioural system is used to classify non-technical skills. The first level has five major categories of these skills. When conducting an OVB, the main categories to be considered are: situational awareness, decision making, team work and communication, professional relationships with the woman, and maintaining professional behaviour. The social and interpersonal skills not only contribute to patient safety but also can lead to a lasting impression on the mother. Therefore, the value of these should not be underestimated and need to be carefully built into teaching and formative assessments.