Publication: Awareness and Knowledge of the Surgical Safety Checklist among Healthcare Professionals in University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Date
2021
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kathmandu University
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Background
An introduction of the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO
SSC) is essential to promote surgical safety.
Objective
To obtain country-specific information regarding the checklist in a leading medical
institution in Nepal.
Method
The present research was a cross-sectional study with a survey conducted among
healthcare professionals working in the operation theatre at the Tribhuvan University
Teaching Hospital (TUTH) in Kathmandu, Nepal. A questionnaire was distributed to
150 healthcare professionals working in the operating theatre. Responses to the
questionnaire were analysed descriptively and regression analyses used to identify
factors associated with awareness of the checklist.
Result
In total, 127 healthcare professionals participated in the study, of whom 118 (92.9%)
had been aware of the WHO SSC. A substantial proportion of participants (108,
91.5%) were not satisfied with the prevailing practice whereby the checklist was not
routinely used during surgery. Lack of appropriate training was the most prevalent
barrier to the checklist use (72, 67.9%), followed by unwillingness of staff to use the
checklist (54, 50.9%), and lack of experience (42, 39.7%). The mean score on the
survey was 6.0 out of 10. Regarding the results of the regression model on survey
scores, surgeons had higher scores compared to nurses (unadjusted coefficient 0.80,
95% CI 0.20-1.40).
Conclusion
Most of the healthcare professionals were aware of the WHO SSC, however multiple
barriers to the checklist use were identified. It is important to establish an effective
use of WHO SSC in the operation theatre.
KEY WORDS
Surgical safety, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, Workforce
Description
Uprety A,1 Kobashi Y,2-4 Ozaki A,4,5 Shrestha D,6 Ghimire B,7 Sedain G,8 Sigdel S,9 Higuchi A,2,4 Tsubokura M,2,4 Singh YP10
1Department of Anesthesiology,
Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine,
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
2Department of Radiation Health Management,
Fukushima Medical University School of Medicine,
Fukushima City, Fukushima 960-1295, Japan.
3Department of Anesthesia,
Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation.
Iwaki City, Fukushima, 972-8322, Japan.
4Medical Governance Research Institute,
Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-0074, Japan.
5Department of Breast Surgery,
Jyoban Hospital of Tokiwa Foundation,
Iwaki City, Fukushima, 972-8322, Japan.
6Department of Neonatology,
Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine,
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
7Department of GI and General Surgery,
Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine,
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu,
Nepal.
8Department of Neurosurgery,
Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of Medicine,
Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital,
Kathmandu, Nepal.
9Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesiology,
Manmohan Cardiothoracic Vascular and Transplant
Center, Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Institute of
Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal.
10Department of Gastrointestinal and General
Surgery, Maharajgunj Medical Campus,
Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University Teaching
Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal
Keywords
Surgical safety, WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, Workforce