Surgical safety checklists in UK veterinary practice: Current implementation and attitudes towards their use

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundSurgical safety checklist (SSC) use benefits veterinary patients, but endorsement and implementation are essential for these benefits to be observed.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey assessed UK veterinary professionals' attitudes towards and usage of SSCs and identified factors associated with poorer attitude or failure to use SSCs.ResultsOf 513 respondents, 70% used SSCs. Of these, 87.1% used SSCs for every surgical procedure, 19.1% adapted SSCs for different procedures and 61.1% had a standard operating procedure detailing how to use SSCs. Attitudes towards SSC use were favourable, with increased positive attitude associated with employing at least one registered veterinary nurse with a post‐qualifying qualification (p < 0.001), current SSC use (p < 0.001), undertaking self‐directed reading (p = 0.033) or completing SSC‐relevant post‐qualification continuing professional development (p = 0.005). Factors associated with veterinary practices not using SSCs included Practice Standards Scheme (PSS) non‐membership (odds ratio [OR] 2.0, 1.1–3.4), no RCVS hospital status (OR 1.9, 1.1–3.5) or being a mixed first‐opinion veterinary practice (OR 2.4, 1.2–5.0).LimitationsStudy limitations include sampling methodology and non‐validated attitudinal scale usage.ConclusionMost respondents used SSCs. Familiarity, education and the RCVS PSS were associated with improved uptake and attitudes, but mixed practice was associated with reduced usage.