Safe Surgery Checklist, Patient Safety, Teamwork, and Responsibility-Coequal Demands? A Focus Group Study

Area of Science:

• Medical and Health Sciences
• Nursing
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The World Health Organization's (WHO's) Safe Surgery checklist is a globally recognized tool for enhancing patient safety and fostering teamwork in operating rooms.
• Despite widespread adoption, understanding healthcare professionals' experiences with checklist execution and compliance remains crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore operating room nurses' and nursing students' lived experiences and perspectives on the implementation and adherence to Safe Surgery checklists.
• To identify factors influencing the effectiveness of these checklists in clinical practice.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative research design was employed, utilizing semistructured focus group discussions.
• Qualitative content analysis was performed to interpret the collected data.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: Safe Surgery checklists have a variable impact on teamwork and patient safety, and checklist execution presents practical and ethical challenges.
• Variations in practices and attitudes toward checklist compliance were observed between experienced nurses and students, influenced by professional and cultural dynamics.

Conclusions:

• The effectiveness of Safe Surgery checklists is moderated by team dynamics, professional understanding, and cultural contexts.
• Addressing the practical and ethical challenges in checklist execution is essential for optimizing their role in patient safety and collaborative surgical care.