Safe anesthesia within the context of human interactions: a qualitative study

Anesthesia safety involves more than just skills and equipment; it’s also about how people interact. While human factors help prevent errors, the full effect of these interactions on anesthesia safety hasn’t been well studied. This study aimed to understand safe anesthesia better by looking at how human interactions affect it. This qualitative study was conducted using a conventional content analysis approach based on the method of Graneheim and Lundman. The study took place between April 2025 and March 2026 in a teaching hospital affiliated with Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. A total of 21 participants including anesthesiologists, general surgeons, anesthesia nurses, operating room nurses, head nurses, and patients were selected through purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews and analyzed inductively. The trustworthiness of the data was ensured using Lincoln and Guba’s criteria. 403 codes were grouped into two main themes and seven sub-themes. The main theme “therapeutic bond and mutual reassurance” covered therapeutic communication, feeling accepted, and teamwork. The other main theme, “continuity in safe care,” highlighted maintaining care across anesthesia phases. Effective communication, trust, information sharing, monitoring, and teamwork are crucial for patient safety. Poor interactions and continuity breaks threaten safety. Ensuring safety anesthesia is complex, arising from the interplay of technical skills and human elements. Positive human interactions—such as building trust, effective communication, teamwork among professionals, and continuous care coordination—are crucial for both the patient’s safe experience and the treatment team’s effective performance. Consequently, enhancing anesthesia safety demands a holistic approach, focusing on both people and the broader system. This approach must recognize human interactions as a core element, just as important as technology and clinical expertise.