Examining level of awareness and compliance with the World Health Organization safety checklist among Kenyan anesthesiologists
Date
2021
Authors
Ntonjira, Muthoni
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Strathmore University
Abstract
Patient safety is a fundamental right and is of great value among patients undergoing medical procedures that involve the administration of anesthesia due to the risks and high potential for complications. Statistics show that the global rate of adverse patient outcomes (mortality and complications) remain high, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. While factors such as low numbers of medical specialists contribute, there is growing evidence linking adverse outcomes to poor compliance to safety checklists and guidelines in surgery, including the World Health Organization Safe Surgery Checklist. This study assessed and explored compliance to safety checklists by medical specialists in order to inform policy and practice on how compliance can be improved for better outcomes. The study employed a mixed method approach to assess factors that influence compliance to the components of WHO surgical safety checklist among anesthesiologists and explore underlying reasons. Both quantitative and qualitative data were collected using questionnaires and interviews. Findings showed an understanding and good knowledge about all the components of the WHO safety checklist among the practitioners. Many agreed that the safety checklist is central to improving the safety in the operating room and in the surgical procedures. In terms of compliance, not all aspects of the checklist were adhered to by the practitioners. Participants only agreed to adhere to some of the aspects of the WHO safety checklist. The level of compliance with the WHO checklist strongly dependent on the level of knowledge among the respondents regarding the presence of these WHO safety checklist (p=0.000, B=0.821); high levels of knowledge correlated to high levels of compliance. There are significant discordances between knowledge and compliance of the WHO surgical safety checklist. Recommendations for improving compliance to the WHO safety checklist have been provided.
Description
A Dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Degree of Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at Strathmore University
Keywords
World Health Organization, Safety checklist, Kenyan anesthesiologists