Abstract:
BACKGROUND : There is a global concern over intraoperative patient safety, as adverse events are
on the rise. When the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC) is used
correctly, it has the potential to prevent such events. Unfortunately, the intraoperative team in
the designated hospital lacked the cooperation to successfully use the checklist.
AIM : This study, therefore, aimed to explore and describe the factors that affect the use of the
checklist in the operating theatres in a designated hospital.
METHODS : A qualitative research approach together with an implementation science strategy
structured according to the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research was used.
Individual interviews with nine surgeons and focus group interviews with six operating
theatre professional nurses provided sufficient data for inductive and deductive analysis.
RESULTS : A deeper understanding of the contextual and interventional factors that affect the
use of the WHO SSC is provided by the findings. A high demand for surgery, the hierarchy in
the surgical team, their uncertainty about hospital policies and reluctance to adjust to change
contributed to the poor use of the checklist.
CONCLUSION : A sustainable implementation process is crucial and should be embraced and
promoted by the intraoperative team.
CONTRIBUTION : The article contributes a description of the factors that address the use of a
checklist for intraoperative patient safety. It recommends that the factors that hinder the use of
the checklist be timeously addressed.
Description:
DATA AVAILABILITY : The data that support the findings of this study are available
from authors; M.v.Z, N.C.v.W, and R.L., upon reasonable
request.
