Use of the World Health Organization Checklist—Swedish Health Care Professionals' Experience: A Mixed-Method Study

Barriers and facilitators associated with the implementation of surgical safety checklists: A qualitative systematic review

AIM

Despite the documented benefits of the World Health Organisation Patient Safety Checklist compliance rates with implementation continue to cause risk to patient safety. This qualitative systematic review aimed to explore the reported factors that impact compliance and implementation processes related to surgical safety checklists in perioperative settings.

DESIGN

A qualitative systematic review.

METHODS

A systematic review using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach to synthesize qualitative studies was conducted and reported according to PRISMA guidelines. Electronic databases were expansively searched using keywords and subject headings. Articles were assessed using a pre-selected eligibility criterion. Data extraction and quality appraisal was undertaken for all included studies and a meta-aggregation performed.

DATA SOURCES

The CINAHL, Medline and Scopus databases were searched in August 2022 and the search was repeated in June 2023.

RESULTS

34 studies were included. Following the synthesis of the findings there were multiple interrelating barriers to checklist compliance that impacted implementation. There were more barriers than enablers reported in existing studies. Enablers included effective leadership, education and training, timely use of audit and feedback, local champions, and the option for local modifications to the surgical checklist. Further research should focus on targeted interventions that improve observed compliance rates to optimize patient safety.

CONCLUSION

This qualitative systematic review identified multiple key factors that influenced the uptake of the Surgical Safety Checklist in operating theatres.

IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION AND/OR PATIENT CARE

Surgeon participation, hierarchical culture, complacency, and duplication of existing safety processes were identified which impacted the use and completion of the checklist.

The Role of an Assistant Nurse in Implementing the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: Perception and Perspectives

Introduction The World Health Organization (WHO) Surgical Safety Checklist is a tool developed by the WHO to promote safer surgical practices and reduce the incidence of surgical errors and complications. This study aims to describe the role of assistant nurses in the implementation of this checklist by surgical teams. Materials and methods This descriptive study utilized a questionnaire-based survey conducted between September 2018 and March 2019 among 196 healthcare professionals at two surgical units in a university hospital in Sweden. The questionnaire covered demographic information such as age, gender, and occupation, as well as details about their workplace, experience, education/training on using the WHO checklist, the adaptation of the checklist to their department, their responsibilities in implementing and using the checklist, the frequency of use in emergency situations, and the impact on patient safety. Results The results of the study showed that assistant nurses, despite having the lowest level of education among healthcare professionals, were highly trusted and valued by other members of the surgical team. Most healthcare professionals were unsure who was responsible for using the WHO checklist but believed it was the assistant nurse's responsibility to ensure its implementation. Assistant nurses reported little to no training on using the checklist but noted that it had been adapted to the department's needs. Almost half (48.8%) of assistant nurses believed that the checklist was often used in emergency surgery, and most believed that it improved patient safety. Conclusions Improved understanding of the significance of assistant nurses in implementing the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist may enhance adherence to the checklist and potentially improve patient safety, as they were the most valued and trusted healthcare professionals in the surgical team according to the study's findings.

Factors Causing Variation in World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist Effectiveness-A Rapid Scoping Review

INTRODUCTION

This review was conducted to determine what factors might be responsible for prejudicing the outcomes after the implementation of a World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC), grouping them appropriately and proposing strategies that enable the SSC a more helpful and productive tool in the operating room.

METHODS

It was a rapid scoping review conducted as per Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-analyses extension guidelines for scoping reviews (PRISMA-Scr). Comprehensive search on MEDLINE and Embase was carried out, to include all relevant studies published during last 5 years. Twenty-seven studies were included in analysis. The barriers to SSC implementation were classified into 5 main groups, with further subdivisions in each.

RESULTS

The results of review revealed that there are 5 major barriers to SSC at the following levels: organizational, checklist, individual, technical, and implementation. Each of these major barriers, on further evaluation, was found to have more than one contributing factors. All these factors were analyzed individually.

CONCLUSIONS

This rapid scoping review has consolidated data, which may pave the way for experts to further examine steps that might be taken locally or globally in order that the WHO SSC to successfully achieve all its desired goals.

Surgical Teams' Attitudes About Surgical Safety and the Surgical Safety Checklist at 10 Years: A Multinational Survey

To assess health care professionals' attitudes on the Surgical Safety Checklist ("the Checklist") in resource-rich health systems and provide insights on strategies for optimizing Checklist use.

Background

In use for over a decade, the Checklist is a safety instrument aimed at improving operating room communication, teamwork, and evidence-based safety practices.

Methods

An online survey was sent to surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists in 5 high-income countries (Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand). Survey results were analyzed using SPSS.

Results

A total of 2032 health care professionals completed the survey. Of these respondents, 47.6% were nurses, 70.5% were women, 65.1% were from the United States, and 50.0% had 20 years of experience or more in their role. Most respondents felt the Checklist positively impacted patient safety (70.9%), team communication (73.1%), and teamwork (58.9%). Only 50.3% of respondents were satisfied their team's use of the Checklist, and only 47.5% reported team members stopping to fully participate in the process. More nurses lacked confidence regarding their role in the Checklist process than surgeons and anesthesiologists combined (8.9% vs 4.3%). Fewer surgeons and anesthesiologists than nurses felt they received adequate training on the Checklist's use (57.8% vs 76.7%).

Conclusions

While most respondents perceive the Checklist as enhancing patient safety, not all surgical team members are actively engaging with its use. To enhance buy-in and meaningful use of the Checklist, health systems should provide more training on the Checklist with respect to its purpose and strengthening teamwork.

A Scoping Review of Strategies Used to Implement the Surgical Safety Checklist

In 2007, the World Health Organization initiated the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) as part of an initiative to improve patient outcomes. After publication of the SSC, perioperative nurses identified challenges with implementing it and questioned its effectiveness. We desired to summarize the state of the science on the effectiveness of strategies that perioperative personnel have used to implement and assess the SSC; therefore, we conducted a scoping review. We searched several databases and identified 28 articles that described the three key stages of SSC implementation (ie, before, during, and after). Half of the identified articles addressed intervention strategies and most articles provided strategies for SSC implementation. The literature also indicated that effective implementation occurred when there was adequate planning. Perioperative leaders should work with nurses when implementing the SSC and monitor its use after implementation to verify compliance and help prevent negative patient outcomes.