Knowledge and attitudes towards surgical safety checklists: a survey of veterinary professionals

To determine the knowledge and use of safe surgical checklists (SSCs) and surgical safety practices (SSPs) in different sectors of veterinary medicine.

1,235 small animal veterinarians who perform surgery in the United States and Canada.

An online survey was distributed to veterinarians through social media platforms, specialty listservs, and the Veterinary Information Network. Respondents provided information regarding their role, practice type, as well as knowledge, attitudes, and use of SSCs. Respondents also provided information about performance of SSPs including team introductions; confirmation of antibiotic prophylaxis, patient identity, procedure to be performed; and confirmation of completion of all procedures.

A greater proportion of Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (49/77 [64%]) reported using an SSC than other veterinarians (257/1157 [22%]; P < .0001). A greater proportion of veterinarians working in university and multispecialty hospitals reported using a SSC (71/142 [50%]) than in other practice settings (235/1092 [22%]; P < .0001). Use of a SSC correlated with consistent performance of surgical safety practices listed above (P < .0001). Primary care veterinarians commonly reported not using a SSC because they did not know about them (359/590 [61%]). Of the 507 respondents who had ever used a SSC, 333 (66%) believed the checklist had prevented an error or complication.

Despite widespread knowledge and adoption of SSC use in human medicine, knowledge and use of SSCs is lacking in primary care veterinary practice. Checklist use has previously been shown to decrease post operative complications and in this study was correlated with increased use of SSPs that decreased complications.