EFFECTIVENESS OF WHO SURGICAL SAFETY CHECKLIST AS A TOOL FOR PATIENT SAFETY OF PAF HOSPITAL FIASAL

Abstract

The World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist (WHO SSC) is a well-proven strategy that has been shown to improve patient safety and reduce surgical complications around the world. This one-year prospective observational study at PAF Hospital, Faisal, assessed the WHO SSC's implementation, compliance, and influence on surgical outcomes. Compliance with checklist components gradually climbed from 55% to 95%, whereas surgical site infections, intraoperative problems, and postoperative complications decreased significantly following the introduction. Although 30-day mortality did not decrease significantly, the overall findings indicate that checklist adherence improves perioperative safety. The study emphasizes the necessity of ongoing staff training, leadership commitment, and a safety culture for maximizing checklist effectiveness in resource-constrained situations.