Surgeons’ bad behaviour improves under the ‘unblinking eye’: Aussie study

The change was attributed to the perception that they were being watched, researchers say.

Rude remarks, sarcastic comments and insults in operating theatres seem to drop off if surgical staff feel the gaze of watchful eyes, a novel Adelaide study shows.

Surgeons, anaesthetists, assistants and scrub nurses reported fewer incidents of incivility after posters with eyes were placed in operating theatres and hallways without explanation, the University of SA team wrote in PLOS ONE.