Evaluation of the Perceptions of Safety of Surgical Practice at a Tertiary Academic Trauma Hospital in Havana, Cuba

Ab s t r Ac t Aim: The aim of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of measuring the perceptions of safety of surgical practice in a tertiary hospital in Havana, Cuba. Materials and methods: A validated survey used to measure the perceptions of safety of surgical practice among operating room (OR) personnel was translated into Spanish. The survey was administered to all OR personnel who worked at the General Calixto García Hospital between June 15, 2015, and October 30, 2017. The survey consisted of two demographic questions and 16 items that respondents could answer using a seven-point Likert scale. Responses were dichotomized and evaluated between surgeons and trainees and between participants with ≤5 years and ≥6 years of experience. Results: There were 200 respondents (response rate of 46.5%, 200/430), which included 55 (27%) surgeons, 116 (58%) trainees, 10 (5%) anesthesiologists, and 19 (9.5%) nurses. The majority of respondents reported having ≤5 years of experience (71.4%, n = 142). Surgeons and participants with ≥6 years of experience more often had a significantly more favorable perception of surgical safety than trainees and participants with ≤5 years of experience, respectively. Conclusion: The perceptions of safety of surgical practice were successfully measured at a tertiary hospital in Havana, Cuba. The perception of surgical safety differed according to professional role and years of experience. Clinical significance: Making surgery safer includes fostering a favorable culture of surgical safety in the OR so that all personnel feel empowered to speak up and act on behalf of patient’s safety.