Surgical Safety Checklists in Veterinary Practice: Current Implementation Within UK Practices and Attitudes Towards Their Use

Background
Surgical safety checklist (SSC) use benefits veterinary surgical patients, but requires endorsement and implementation for realisation of benefits.
Methods
A prospective, observational, cross-sectional survey with convenience sampling was used to assess UK veterinary professional (VP) attitudes, usage and risk factors for poorer attitude/failure to use SSCs.
Results
Of 517 respondents, 70% worked in practices using SSCs. Of these, 87% used SSCs for every surgical procedure, 19.2% adapted SSCs for different procedures and 60.2% had a veterinary practice standard operating procedure detailing how to use SSCs.
Attitudes towards SSC use were favourable, with increased positive attitude associated with: being a training practice (p= 0.018), employing at least one RVN with a post-qualifying qualification (p= 0.009), current SSC use (p<0.001), undertaking self-directed reading (p= 0.020) or completing relevant post-qualification Continuing Professional Development (p= 0.013) surrounding SSCs.
Risk factors for respondent veterinary practice not using SSCs included: practice standards scheme non-membership (OR 2.0, 1.1-3.4), not having RCVS hospital status (OR 1.9, 1.1-3.5) or being a mixed first opinion VP (OR 2.4, 1.2-5.0).
Conclusion
Most respondents reported using SSCs. The findings suggest the importance of familiarity, education and the RCVS practice standards scheme to improve uptake and attitudes.