title: Evaluation of safety procedures in anaesthesia and intensive care.
abstract: A study was conducted to determine the ability of junior anaesthetists to check the anaesthetic machine, demonstrate a knowledge of a multifunction monitor and a defibrillator, and know the hospital fire drill. The subjects were 38 junior anaesthetists working in a large multi-disciplinary teaching hospital. 45% were able to check the anaesthetic machine according to the guidelines of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists, and 16% had a complete working knowledge of the monitor. All subjects could use the defibrillator but only 24% could adequately solve the problem of malfunction. Only one subject had a working knowledge of the fire drill; excluding knowledge of the fire drill only 3 subjects (8%) satisfactorily completed all aspects of the assessment. As a result of this study structured checking routines are being introduced into anaesthetic teaching and practice and a similar multi-center study of specialist anaesthetists is being planned.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, University of Adelaide, S.A.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Clayton
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Runciman
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000592:standards*; D001315:Australia; D003422:Critical Care / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods*