← Articles

Hawker et al: Attitudes towards surgical safety checklists among American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomates
Veterinary Surgery 5, 2024

🔍 Key Findings

  • 67.9% of respondents reported using SSCs, with most indicating frequent use (64% used in every surgery).
  • 78.7% agreed SSCs reduce complications, and 89.6% believed SSCs improve communication.
  • Respondents not using SSCs were more likely to view them as a waste of time (p < .001).
  • Forgetfulness (39.6%) and time constraints (36.5%) were leading reasons for checklist noncompletion.
  • Only 23.3% had SSC training during surgical residency, with newer diplomates more likely to have had exposure (p < .001).
  • Key strategies to improve uptake included: staff feedback modifications (67.9%), formal designation of initiator (48.6%), and training (52.2%).
  • Surgeons and OR staff were most commonly identified as noncompliant team members.
  • SSC use was more frequent in small animal practices, and mandating SSCs by management was favored but not always effective alone.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

How critical is this paper for crushing the Boards?

🚨 Must-know. I’d bet on seeing this.

📚 Useful background, not must-know.

💤 Skip it. Doubt it’ll ever show up.

Thanks for the feedback!
‍We'll keep fine-tuning the articles vault.
Oops — didn’t go through.
‍Mind trying that again?
← Articles

Hawker et al: Attitudes towards surgical safety checklists among American College of Veterinary Surgeons diplomates
Veterinary Surgery 5, 2024

🔍 Key Findings

  • 67.9% of respondents reported using SSCs, with most indicating frequent use (64% used in every surgery).
  • 78.7% agreed SSCs reduce complications, and 89.6% believed SSCs improve communication.
  • Respondents not using SSCs were more likely to view them as a waste of time (p < .001).
  • Forgetfulness (39.6%) and time constraints (36.5%) were leading reasons for checklist noncompletion.
  • Only 23.3% had SSC training during surgical residency, with newer diplomates more likely to have had exposure (p < .001).
  • Key strategies to improve uptake included: staff feedback modifications (67.9%), formal designation of initiator (48.6%), and training (52.2%).
  • Surgeons and OR staff were most commonly identified as noncompliant team members.
  • SSC use was more frequent in small animal practices, and mandating SSCs by management was favored but not always effective alone.

Simini Surgery Review Podcast

Know What Matters in the Literature - and Why

We distill peer-reviewed surgical studies into clinically relevant summaries and
exam-style questions, so you can make informed decisions with confidence.

Free Access. No Spam. Just Smarter Surgical Learning

Multiple Choice Questions on this study

In Hawker 2024 et al., on checklist attitudes, which implementation strategy was most commonly associated with SSC success?

A. Mandating use by hospital
B. Posting in OR
C. Monitoring completion rates
D. Formal training
E. Modification based on staff feedback

Answer: Modification based on staff feedback

Explanation: Ongoing SSC modification was reported by 67.9% as a key strategy to improve uptake.
In Hawker 2024 et al., on checklist attitudes, which group was most often reported as noncompliant with SSC use?

A. Clients
B. Residents
C. Surgeons
D. Anesthesia technicians
E. Reception staff

Answer: Surgeons

Explanation: Surgeons were most commonly identified as noncompliant users.
In Hawker 2024 et al., on checklist attitudes, what was a leading barrier cited for noncompletion of SSCs?

A. Insufficient surgical staff
B. High patient volume
C. Hierarchical resistance
D. Forgetfulness
E. Time of day

Answer: Forgetfulness

Explanation: Forgetfulness (39.6%) was the most frequently cited reason for SSC noncompletion.
In Hawker 2024 et al., on checklist attitudes, what was true regarding SSC exposure during training?

A. Less than 25% had exposure during training
B. Most were exposed in vet school
C. SSC exposure was universal
D. New diplomates had lower exposure
E. Equine-focused surgeons had the highest exposure

Answer: Less than 25% had exposure during training

Explanation: Only 23.3% of respondents reported exposure to SSCs during their formal training.
In Hawker 2024 et al., on checklist attitudes, what proportion of ACVS diplomates reported using a surgical safety checklist (SSC)?

A. 45.5%
B. 56.2%
C. 67.9%
D. 78.1%
E. 84.3%

Answer: 67.9%

Explanation: Survey data indicated 67.9% of respondents used an SSC at their practice.

Access the full library of surgical summaries and exam-style questions.

Get Instant Access

Educational content developed independently and supported by Simini.

The maker of Simini Protect Lavage.

Review More Key Summaries from this Veterinary Surgery Journal Issue

Lhuillery

 et al: 

Outcomes of dogs undergoing surgery for gastric dilatation volvulus after rapid versus prolonged medical stabilization

Araos

 et al: 

Effect of continuous positive airway pressure helmet on respiratory function following laparoscopic surgery in healthy dogs

Hertel

 et al: 

Successful venotomy for portal tumor thrombus removal due to pancreatic carcinoma in a dog

Fracka

 et al: 

3D-printed, patient-specific cutting guides improve femoral and tibial cut alignment in canine total knee replacement

Husi

 et al: 

Comparative kinetic and kinematic evaluation of TPLO and TPLO combined with extra-articular lateral augmentation: A biomechanical study