Parental involvement in the preoperative surgical safety checklist is welcomed by both parents and staff

Area of Science:

• Patient Safety
• Surgical Care
• Anesthesiology

Background:

• The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) is a critical tool for improving patient safety in surgical settings.
• Parental presence and involvement during the perioperative period are increasingly recognized as important factors in pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and impact of involving parents in the initial stage of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC) for pediatric patients.
• To evaluate the perceived benefits of parental participation in the SSC on patient safety from both parent and healthcare staff perspectives.

Main Methods:

• A study involving 42 parents of pediatric patients was conducted.
• Parents accompanied their children to the theatre suite and participated in the first stage of the three-stage SSC process before anesthesia induction.
• Participants confirmed patient identity, procedure, operating site, and consent status.

Main Results:

• Parental involvement in the first stage of the WHO SSC was welcomed by both parents and theatre staff.
• Both groups perceived that this involvement positively contributed to enhancing patient safety.
• The study demonstrated a positive reception and perceived benefit of integrating parents into the SSC process.

Conclusions:

• Involving parents in the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist is a feasible and beneficial strategy for improving patient safety in pediatric surgery.
• Parental participation can enhance communication and verification processes, leading to a safer surgical environment.
• This approach fosters collaboration between families and healthcare teams, reinforcing a culture of safety.