How do surgeons feel about the 'Getting it Right First Time' national audit? Results from a qualitative assessment

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Surgical Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a significant concern in healthcare.
• National initiatives aim to improve surgical quality and patient outcomes.
• Effective audit processes are crucial for identifying and addressing SSIs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the implementation of the national 'Getting It Right First Time' program.
• To identify the impacts and challenges associated with SSI audit implementation.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of current audit methodologies.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative assessment through interviews.
• Involved six surgeons at various levels of surgical site infection (SSI) audit.
• Explored professional collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge gaps.

Main Results:

• Positive impacts included enhanced professional collaboration, improved stakeholder engagement, and increased SSI profile.
• Identified a knowledge gap regarding SSI diagnostic criteria among participants.
• Concerns raised about poor data quality due to methodological flaws.
• The audit process was perceived as time-consuming and unsustainable without protected time and designated responsibility for junior surgeons.

Conclusions:

• The 'Getting It Right First Time' initiative shows promise in fostering collaboration and awareness.
• Significant improvements are needed in audit methodology, data quality, and resource allocation.
• Sustainable audit practices require protected time and clear responsibilities for surgical teams.