A preliminary study of patients’ perceptions on the implementation of the WHO surgical safety checklist in women who had Cesarean sections

Abstract

The surgical safety checklist (SSCL), developed by the World Health Organization, is widely implemented by surgical staff for the improvement of their communication, teamwork, and safety culture in the operating room. However, there is no research available addressing the question of how surgical patients perceive the implementation of the SSCL. In order to address this issue, a questionnaire-based preliminary study was conducted for patients who had undergone elective Cesarean section under awake regional anesthesia. Although most participants had not been informed about the implementation of the SSCL before surgery, all of the patients were aware that the SSCL had been performed in the operating room. Over 80% of patients answered that the implementation of the SSCL could help to reduce their feelings of anxiety, tension, and fear, as well as enhance their feeling of security. Furthermore, most patients answered that they were able to understand the components as well as the purpose of the SSCL, and considered that the SSCL should be implemented. These results suggest that awake patients undergoing Cesarean section perceive the implementation of the SSCL to be a highly positive aspect of their surgical care.

Adaptação E Validação De Checklist De Segurança Cirúrgica Na Cesárea

“…Studies conducted in Canada, the Netherlands, Japan, Austria and Spain on the use of WHO checklists in obstetric care, showing a significant improvement in the safety and quality of the care practices in the services where they were used, are evidenced. [29][30][31][32][33] Thus, the surgical safety checklist in the cesarean delivery adapted and validated may contribute to promote patient safety as an instrument to improve quality and safety in obstetric care in the service studied.…”

The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist Improves Post-Operative Outcomes: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

“…Fear of provoking anxiety among the patients when questions are asked has also hindered implementation and utilization of the checklist, however, the opposite has been observed in published studies [7] [22]- [24]. Kawano et al questioned 15 women who underwent a Cesarean section and were fully aware the checklist took place and 12 of the patients felt less anxious, 13 reported being less fearful, and 12 patients reported being less tense [22]. Russ et al reported that 74% (N = 104) of patients felt safer with the use of the checklist [23].…”

Seen through the patients’ eyes: surgical safety and checklists

“…confirming with staff the identity of their child, the procedure to be performed, the operating site and the consent being adequately obtained and recorded) to be important for surgical safety without any added anxiety [16]. Patients themselves perceive the implementation of the surgical safety checklist to be a highly positive aspect of their surgical care [17]. Patients have positive attitudes towards checklist implementation and agree that it would have a positive impact on their safety and on surgical team performance [18].…”