The Impact of Patients’ Engagement in the Prevention of Surgical Site Infections: A Systematic Review

Ashraf A’aqoulah,1,2 Munirah Alomran,1 Nuha Alhumaid,1,2 Ashraf El-Metwally,2,3 Farah Kalmey2,4 1Health Systems Management Department, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 2King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 3Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, College of Public Health and Health Informatics, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; 4Department of English, College of Science and Health Professions, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi ArabiaCorrespondence: Ashraf A’aqoulah, Email [email protected]: Infections at surgical sites are a significant risk to patients undergoing surgery, increasing hospitalization and health care costs, morbidity, and mortality. Participation of patients in healthcare decision-making helps identify community needs and preferences, resulting in more patient-centered and effective care. To achieve positive surgical outcomes, patients must cooperate and participate in preoperative and postoperative care, including postoperative wound care.Aim: This systematic review intends to determine what the outcomes are of patient engagement in improving health outcomes with surgical site infection prevention method.Methods: Up to April 20, 2024, the following prime databases were searched: Pub Med, Science Direct, Scopus, web of sciences and Google Scholar. A flow chart adapted from PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses) was used to present the process of studying patient engagement in surgical site infections. Newcastle Ottawa and the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) critical evaluation tools were used to assess bias risk and quality of included studies.Results: Our review indicates patient engagement in surgical sites helps prevent infections. Involving patients in healthcare decision-making has several benefits. For example, a more engaged patient adheres to treatment plans more frequently, and this leads to improvement in health outcomes. It has been reported that the rate of SSIs before implementation was 16.4 and decreased significantly to 4.7%. SSI rates decreased in all three surgical specialties in colorectal surgery from 3.2% to 2.7%, plastic surgery from 1.2% to 0.5%, and general surgery from 0.86% to 0.33%.Conclusion: Healthcare providers should engage patients in treatment plans reduce infection, and improve healthcare outcomes, and create a more patient-centred healthcare system. Engaging them at each stage of the healthcare process may enhance their experience and result in better outcomes for them.Keywords: patient engagement, patient involvement, patient participation, surgical site infection, prevention