Safe surgery is a world-wide recognised issue. The World Health Organization statistics show that the occurrence of major complications is between 3 and 16%, and the occurrence of disability and death is between 0.4 and 0.8% (WHO 2009).
According to Vijayasekar and Steele (2009) 234 million major surgical procedures are undertaken globally each year. The National Patient Safety Agency (NPSA) has collated over 1 million reports of surgical incidences in England and Wales between October 2006 and September 2007. Weiser et al (2008) quote a world-wide figure of 7 million individuals affected with a disabling complication, and a death rate of 1 million.
AndersonL2009Safe surgery to save livesKai Tiaki Nursing, New Zealand15(6) 20–1
2.
AroraS, HullL, SevadalisN2010Factors comprising safety in surgery: stressful events in the operating roomThe American Journal of Surgery19960–65
3.
BellR2010How implementing the surgical safety checklist improved staff teamwork in theatreNursing Times106(12) 12
4.
BickellNA, AufsesAHJr, RojasM2006How time affects the risk of rupture in appendicitisJournal of American College Of Surgeons202401–406
5.
BradyJM2009Looking beyond borders: surgical safety is a universal matterJournal of PeriAnaesthesia Nursing24(3) 180–182
6.
CormackD2000The Research Process in Nursing4th editionOxford, Blackwell Science
7.
DaviesJM2005Team communication in the operating roomActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica49898–901
8.
DonaldsonL2008 cited in National Patient Safety Agency UK Surgical Organisations sign up to World Health Organisation Challenge: Safe Surgery Saves Lives Available from: www.npsa.nhs.uk/corporate/news/safe-surgery-saves-lives {Accessed June 2011]
9.
HaynesAB, ThomasG, WeiserMD2009A surgical safety checklist to reduce morbidity and mortality in a global populationThe New England Journal of Medicine360491–499
10.
KarlR2009Briefings, checklists, geese and surgical safetyAnnals of Surgical Oncology178–11
11.
KaoLS, ThomasEJ2008Research Review. Navigating towards improved surgical safety using aviation-based strategiesJournal of Surgical Research145327–335
12.
LavinMA, KriegerMM, MeyerGA, SpasserMA, CvitanT, ReeseCG2005Development and evaluation of evidence-based nursing (EBN) filters and related databasesJournal of the Medical Library Association93104–115
13.
LingardL, EspinS, WhyteS2004Communication failures in the operating room: An observational classification of recurrent types and effects Quality Safety Healthcare 13 330 cited in Kao LS, Thomas EJ 2008 Research Review: Navigating towards improved surgical safety using aviation-based strategiesJournal of Surgical Research145327–335
14.
LingardL, RegehrG, OrserB2008Evaluation of a preoperative checklist and team briefing among surgeons, nurses, and anesthesiologists to reduce failures in communicationArchives of Surgery143(1)
15.
MalkinK2000Patient's perceptions of pre-assessment clinicsJournal of Nursing Management8(2) 107–113
16.
MarshallDA, ManusDA2007A team training program using human factors to enhance patient safetyAORN Journal86994–1011
17.
MazzoccoK, PetittiDB, FongKT2009Surgical team behaviours and patient outcomes American Journal of Surgery 197 678–685 cited in Weiser TG, Haynes AB, Dziekan G, Berry WR, Lipsitz SR, Gwande AA 2010 Effect of a 19-item surgical safety checklist during urgent operations in a global patient populationAnnals of Surgery251(5) 976–980
18.
MitchellM2007Psychological care of patients undergoing elective surgeryNursing Standard21(30) 48–55
19.
National Patient Safety Agency2008UK Surgical Organisations sign up to World Health Organisation Challenge: Safe Surgery Saves Lives Available from: www.npsa.nhs.uk/corporate/news/safe-surgery-saves-lives/ [Accessed June 2011]
20.
NilssonL, LindbergetO, GuptaA, VegforsM2010Implementing a pre-operative checklist to increase patient safety: a 1-year follow–up of personnel attitudesActa Anaesthesiologica ScandinavicaS4176–182
21.
NundyS, MukherjeeA, SextonJB2008Impact of preoperative briefings on operating room delaysArchives of Surgery143(11)
22.
ParahooK2006Nursing Research: Principles, Process and Issues2nd edition Basingstoke, London, Palgrave Macmillan
23.
PronovostPJ, ThompsonDA, HolzmuellerCG2006Toward learning from patient safety reporting systemsJournal of Critical Care21305–15
24.
RaynerJ2009Reducing harm in perioperative careNursing Times105(12) 32–33
SaxHC2009Improving patient safety with the use of surgical checklistsMedicine & Health, Rhode Island922(8) 265–6
27.
SeifertPC2009Checklists and safety improvementsAmerican Operating Room Nursing Journal89(4) 653–655
28.
ThomasEJ, StuddertDM, BurstinHR2000Incidence and types of adverse events and negligent care in Utah and ColoradoMedical Care38261–271
29.
VijayasekarC, SteeleRJ2009The World Health Organization's Surgical Safety Checklist.The Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland Surgeon7(5) 260–262
30.
VincentC2010How to improve patient safety in surgeryJournal of Health Services Research and Policy15(S1) 40–43
31.
WanzelKR, JamiesonCG, BohnenJM2000Complications on a general surgery service: incidence and reportingCanadian Journal of Surgery43113–117
32.
WatsonDS2009National patient safety goals and implementationAORN Journal90(1) 123–7
33.
WeiserTG, RegenbogenSE, ThompsonKD2008An estimation of the global volume of surgery: a modelling strategy based on available dataThe Lancet372139–144
34.
WeiserTG, HaynesAB, DziekanG2010Effect of a 19-item surgical safety checklist during urgent operations in a global patient populationAnnals of Surgery251(5) 976–980
World Health Organization (2009) WHO Patient Safety Research. Better Knowledge for Safer Care Available from: www.who.int/patientsafety/research/en [Accessed June 2011]
37.
WilsonI, WalkerI2009The WHO Surgical Safety Checklist: the evidenceJournal of Perioperative Practice19(10) 362–4
