Background: Surgery-related adverse events remain
a significant and often under-reported problem. In
a recent study, the introduction of a perioperative
checklist by the WHO reduced deaths and
complications by 46% and 36% respectively. The
authors wished to evaluate the introduction of
a surgical safety checklist in a busy obstetric tertiary
referral centre by assessing staff attitudes, checklist
compliance and effects upon patients.
Methods: A questionnaire-based assessment was
performed on staff working in obstetric theatres before
and after the introduction of the surgical safety
checklist. Checklist compliance was assessed at
3 months and 1 year. Patients were asked questions
relating to the performance of the surgical safety
checklist in order to evaluate any anxiety caused.
Results: Non-medical staff were significantly more
likely than medical staff to feel familiar with other team
members both before (p<0.001) and after (
