Patient safety in operating room-A qualitative study of surgical team members

Patient safety is a global concern that involves all healthcare members, in order to achieve a high level of safe care in all healthcare settings, particularly by the surgical team members. A study was aimed to evaluate the experiences of patient safety in operating room among surgical team members.

A study was conducted by using qualitative research approach with purposive sampling technique to recruit 15 surgical team members (Surgeons-5, Anesthetist-2, nurses-6, technicians-2), with open ended questions using interview, that lasted for 15–30 minutes and was conducted by the first researcher in a private area based on the participants ’willingness to answer the question. The interviews were recorded on a digital recorder with their consent, which was complemented by field notes and analyzed by the researcher separately.

The transcripts were analyzed by conventional content analysis approach. Two themes were extracted from data analysis including “Patient-Centered Care ”and “Organizational-Based Factors”, and seven sub categories which includes Peri-operative care, safety maintenance, medication, Patient characteristics, Infection control practices, Operating room facilities and equipments and Staffing were delineated from participants ’experiences with regard to the patient safety.

Educating surgical team members for focusing on patient interaction and team cooperation is essential for achievement of improving quality of care. Furthermore, improving facilities and equipments, providing sufficient and efficient personnel by the health care administrators are necessary to provide effective clinical services.