WHO safe surgery checklist: Barriers to universal acceptance

Area of Science:

• Medical safety
• Surgical quality improvement
• Public health initiatives

Background:

• The World Health Organization (WHO) developed the Safe Surgery Checklist to mitigate surgical complications.
• The checklist has demonstrated significant reductions in infection rates and morbidity.
• Despite proven benefits, healthcare providers exhibit hesitancy in routine implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the specific hurdles hindering the widespread adoption of the WHO Surgical Checklist.
• To propose actionable strategies for overcoming these implementation barriers.
• To promote consistent use of the checklist for enhanced surgical patient safety.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of healthcare provider feedback and institutional barriers.
• Review of existing literature on surgical safety checklist implementation.
• Case study analysis of successful and unsuccessful checklist adoption.

Main Results:

• Key barriers include time constraints, perceived lack of utility, and resistance to workflow changes.
• Team communication and leadership support were identified as critical factors for successful adoption.
• Specific training and tailored implementation strategies can improve checklist adherence.

Conclusions:

• Addressing provider hesitancy and workflow integration challenges is crucial for effective WHO Surgical Checklist implementation.
• Overcoming adoption hurdles can maximize the checklist's potential to reduce surgical complications and improve patient outcomes.
• Continued efforts in education and system support are necessary for sustained use of the Safe Surgery Checklist.