ELEVATING PATIENT SAFETY: ENHANCING SURGICAL CHECKLIST COMPLIANCE

The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist a 19-item tool designed to reduce errors, prevent adverse events, and improve communication and teamwork in surgery, with global recognition for its role in reducing morbidity and mortality. This closed-loop audit, conducted at BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences from June to August 2023, assessed checklist adherence among 200 elective surgery patients, measuring compliance before and after an educational intervention that included feedback, audit review, and simulation exercises. Signicant improvements in compliance were observed, notably in "site marking" (72% increase) and "instrument, gauze, and needle count" (60% increase). The main barrier to compliance was a lack of knowledge and training. The study highlights the importance of continuous education and training to enhance the effective use of the checklist and improve patient safety, with interventions like feedback and simulation proving critical in overcoming compliance challenges and promoting teamwork.