[Impact of clinical simulation on improving compliance with the surgical safety checklist]

Surgery is a fundamental component of healthcare, with over 300 million procedures performed annually. At least half of adverse events are considered preventable through tools such as the Surgical Safety Checklist (SSC). However, adherence to the SSC is often incomplete. Simulation-based training offers a meaningful learning methodology that can effectively improve compliance. This study aims to evaluate the use of simulation as a strategy to increase SSC adherence at our hospital.

We conducted a retrospective, quasi-experimental quantitative intervention study, analyzing pre- and post-simulation data collected between the second half of 2021 and the second half of 2023. The target population included operating room healthcare professionals, and the SSC endorsed by the WHO was used. Clinical simulations were carried out that had been previously designed to imitate real situations in operating rooms with natural equipment and their respective post-debriefings as guided reflection for learning.

Simulation participation rates by department were as follows: 40% for Anesthesiology, 55.5% for Surgery, 75% for Orthopedics, and 76.5% for surgical nurses. The impact of the intervention was assessed by retrospectively reviewing SSC compliance before and after the simulation training. The results showed a significant increase in SSC compliance at the entry phase and during the surgical pause (P=.000), while no significant change was observed at the surgical exit phase.

The findings suggest that implementing simulation-based interventions in the operating room can enhance compliance with the Surgical Safety Checklist, thereby contributing to improved patient safety.