Successful trial for introduction of the WHO surgical safety checklist

BACKGROUND: The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist was published in 2008 as an attempt to decrease complications and death from surgery. This checklist was implemented and evaluated using questionnaires in an intermediate size general hospital. We attempted to confirm how the WHO checklist has been implemented and assessed as a medical safety system. METHODS: Using questionnaires, we surveyed anesthesiologists, surgeons and operating room nurses at Kosei Chuo General Hospital regarding the effectiveness of the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist on three occasions (immediately following implementation, after half a year, after one year). RESULTS: Immediately after its implementation, 50% of the anesthesiologists, surgeons and operating room nurses evaluated the checklist positively. That percentage decreased after half a year, and then increased significantly to 85% after one year following the use of our amended checklist. CONCLUSIONS: According to our questionnaires, after the adoption of our checklist, which amended the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, positive evaluation increased significantly after one year, compared with evaluation immediately following implementation. At least one year was required for the checklist to be favorably received by anesthesiologists, surgeons and operating room nurses. We anticipate that the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, amended to meet the circumstances of individual facilities, will be effectively implemented and firmly established.