Implementation of the WHO surgical safety checklist in a tertiary hospital in South-South Nigeria and commonly encountered barriers
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Abstract
Background: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) was established to improve the standard of care of surgical patients and thereby improve perioperative outcome.
Objective: This is an overview of the implementation of the WHO-SSC and commonly encountered barriers at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt –Nigeria.
Methodology: Following institutional Research Ethics Committee approval, the processes leading to the commencement of SSC in the institution were identified. The period of study was over a one-year period in the various operating theatres and a documentation of the total number of procedures performed, total number of administered surgical safety checklists (SSC’s) and types of problems encountered were made. Data were analysed with the SPSS software v.20 and presented as frequencies and percentages of total responses.
Results: An Anaesthetist and a Perioperative Nurse from the institution were part of a national training on SSC and subsequently, meetings were held with the theatre users committee. Out of a total of 4,844 procedures over a wide range of specialties, Anaesthetists led the team in 100% of SSC’s conducted in 3,126(64.5%) and 2,018(64.6%) were general surgical patients. Attributed problems in those not conducted 1718(35.5%) were errors of omission-930(54.1%), lack of time-580(33.8%), lack of documentation sheets-200 (11.6%) and others-8(0.46%).
Conclusion: The Anaesthetists remain the lead and most enthusiastic in the conduct of the WHO-SSC. There is need for improved team approach for conduct of this crucial step aimed at surgical safety.
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