Investigation of the perceptions of operating theatre nurses and central sterile supply department technicians regarding the barriers and facilitators of surgical instrument counts and tray management in the operating theatre

Background

Proper surgical equipment management is essential for ensuring patient safety in the operating theater (OT). Despite existing protocols, errors persist, leading to severe complications and emotional distress. This study aimed to investigate the perceptions of OT nurses and Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) technicians regarding barriers and facilitators of instrument counts and tray management.

Methods

A multicenter cross-sectional, descriptive study was carried out using a SurveyMonkey conducted with a purposive sample of 52 participants of OT Nurses and CSSD technician from three hospitals in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, and to explore the relationship between the demographic variables and participants' overall perception scores, a chi-square test was employed.

Results

Data analysis revealed that participant perceptions varied by years in the profession (p = 0.31) and gender (p = 0.003). About 52 % agreed that current policies are clear, while 36.5 % were uncertain. The majority (40.4 %) believed the current tray couldn't reduce OT costs. Participants disagreed with the lack of training (42.3 %) and communication issues during handover (38.5 %). Confidence in the current protocol was low (40.4 %), and 46.2 % agreed that a new protocol would impact OT operations. Alarmingly, 84.6 % of participants had a negative overall perception, indicating widespread concerns.

Conclusion

These findings lay the groundwork for implementing a revised protocol for surgical tray management. Understanding healthcare professionals' perspectives will aid in identifying strategies to overcome barriers, enhancing instrument management practices, improving patient safety, and optimizing OT efficiency.