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Published in: European Surgery 2/2016

01-05-2016 | ICS congress 2015

Attitudes and compliance to the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist; a review

Authors: Dr. Laltaksh Wangoo, Dr. Robin A. Ray, Prof. Yik-Hong Ho

Published in: European Surgery | Special Issue 2/2016

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Abstract

Background

This review aimed to assess surgical safety checklist compliance (SSC) and evaluate surgical team attitudes, post checklist implementation.

Method

A thorough search of MEDLINE and PUBMED databases for English language studies using any adapted form of the WHO SSC was conducted. In total 26 studies; 13 assessing SSC compliance and 13 investigating surgical team attitudes of the checklist, were evaluated.

Results

Compliance studies demonstrated a checklist initiation rate of >90 %, but showed completion rates to be significantly lower across studies. ‘Sign out’ was the most poorly performed phase (<50 %) with ‘Time out’ being the best. Verification of patient identity and procedure demonstrated high (>90 %) compliance, while ‘Verification of team-members’ varied greatly. Surgical team attitudes noted improved teamwork, communication, patient safety and staff awareness of adverse events.

Conclusion

SSC compliance is highly dependent on staff perceptions, training and effective leadership. While, surgical teams have positive attitudes towards the SSC, resolving key barriers will improve compliance across all phases of SCC.
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Metadata
Title
Attitudes and compliance to the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist; a review
Authors
Dr. Laltaksh Wangoo
Dr. Robin A. Ray
Prof. Yik-Hong Ho
Publication date
01-05-2016
Publisher
Springer Vienna
Published in
European Surgery / Issue Special Issue 2/2016
Print ISSN: 1682-8631
Electronic ISSN: 1682-4016
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10353-016-0405-5

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