Evaluating the Impact of Surgical Safety Checklists on Patient Outcomes: A Multicentre Study

Author(s): Adil Mohammed Sulaiman, Omer Elfaroug Amin Mohammed, Nufra Senopher, Vinod Kumar Singha, Sanjay Kumar Sureen, Adel Mohamed Yasin Alsisi, Faris Dawood Alaswad

Objective: This study aimed to critically assess the impact of surgical safety checklists on patient outcomes across a diverse range of healthcare settings, with an emphasis on mitigating adverse events, enhancing clinical outcomes, and improving the overall quality of surgical care.

Methodology: A multicentre, retrospective cohort design was employed, incorporating five hospitals that ranged from academic medical centres to community hospitals. Data were meticulously gathered from patient records over a two-year period, during which the surgical safety checklist was fully integrated into surgical protocols. The study focused on adult patients who underwent both elective and emergency surgeries across a variety of specialties, including general surgery, orthopaedics, neurosurgery, and cardiothoracic surgery. Stratified sampling ensured a diverse cohort, enhancing the generalizability of the results. Statistical analyses, both descriptive and inferential, were performed to compare clinical outcomes between patients who underwent surgeries with the checklist and those who did not.

Results: The findings revealed a significant improvement in outcomes for the checklist group compared to the non-checklist group. Rates of surgical complications, such as infections, bleeding, anaesthesia-related issues, and organ injuries, were notably lower in the checklist group. Mortality rates also demonstrated a marked reduction, with the checklist group exhibiting a mortality rate of 0.39%, compared to 1.04% in the non-checklist group. Furthermore, patients in the checklist group had shorter hospital stays, averaging 5.2 days, in contrast to 6.8 days for those in the non-checklist group. Recovery times were similarly reduced, with the checklist group recovering in an average of 10.5 days, compared to 12.3 days for the nonchecklist group.

Conclusion: This multicentre study provides robust evidence that the implementation of surgical safety checklists significantly improves patient outcomes by reducing complications, lowering mortality rates, and facilitating faster recovery times. The findings underscore the critical role of standardized safety protocols in fostering effective communication and adherence to essential safety practices among surgical teams, ultimately enhancing patient safety. These results advocate for the broader adoption of surgical safety checklists as an indispensable tool in optimizing surgical care and improving patient outcomes across various healthcare environments.