Evaluation of safety procedures in anaesthesia and intensive care

A study was conducted to determine the ability of junior anaesthetists to check the anaesthetic machine, demonstrate a knowledge of a multifunction monitor and a defibrillator, and know the hospital fire drill. The subjects were 38 junior anaesthetists working in a large multi-disciplinary teaching hospital. 45% were able to check the anaesthetic machine according to the guidelines of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and 16% had a complete working knowledge of the monitor. All subjects could use the defibrillator but only 24% could adequately solve the problem of malfunction. Only one subject had a working knowledge of the fire drill; excluding knowledge of the fire drill only 3 subjects (8%) satisfactorily completed all aspects of the assessment. As a result of this study structured checking routines are being introduced into anaesthetic teaching and practice and a similar multi-center study of specialist anaesthetists is being planned.