title: Does using the WHO surgical checklist improve compliance to venous thromboembolism prophylaxis guidelines?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Using the World Health Organisation (WHO) surgical checklist has been shown to improve the safety of patients undergoing surgery. Its effect on the compliance to venous thromboembolism (VTE) guidelines has not been established before. Our objective was to assess if using the WHO checklist improved compliance to VTE prophylaxis guidelines.
  
  
  METHODS
  Compliance to NICE VTE guidelines were prospectively assessed in all general surgery patients over two separate audit periods, before and after 6 months of the routine use of the WHO checklist. Correct completion of the checklist was verified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  370 patients (173 [47%] male, 197 [53%] female, mean age 61.6 yrs). Non compliance to NICE VTE guidelines was reduced form 16/233 (6.9%) to 3/137 (2.1%) after introduction of the checklist (p = 0.046 Fisher exact test). Non compliance was reduced in both emergency and elective procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Establishment of the WHO checklist for routine use in all general surgery patients may significantly improve VTE guideline compliance of all general surgery patients.
authors: Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Gateshead, NE9 6SX England, UK. petertruran@gmail.com
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Truran
authors: R J
authors: RJ
authors: Critchley
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Gilliam
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D054556:Venous Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014944:World Health Organization