Gown, Glove, Gadget: A Qualitative Study Exploring Surgeons’ Use of Wearable Devices in the Operating Room

This qualitative study explores surgeon experiences using wearable biometric devices in the operating room to support surgeon wellbeing and optimize personal performance. Through semi-structured interviews with attending surgeons and trainees across surgical subspecialties, we identified four themes: (1) increased self-awareness for behavior modification, (2) integration into surgical workflows, (3) challenges with wearable biometric device usability, and (4) future opportunities and broader implications. Participants valued devices that offered intuitive and actionable insights with minimal workflow disruption. However, data complexity and fragmented app ecosystems limited participant engagement. A Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) framework was used to translate qualitative insights into device implementation considerations. Ethical concerns, especially regarding employee privacy and data governance, were noted as potential barriers. These findings highlight both the promise and pitfalls of integrating these devices into surgical practice and suggest the need for thoughtful design, institutional support, and ethical safeguards to maximize device utility and efficacy.