title: Enhancing surgical safety using digital multimedia technology.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to examine whether incorporating digital and video multimedia components improved surgical time-out performance of a surgical safety checklist.
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective pilot study was designed for implementation of a multimedia time-out, including a patient video. Perceptions of the staff participants were surveyed before and after intervention (Likert scale: 1, strongly disagree to 5, strongly agree).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Employee satisfaction was high for both time-out procedures. However, employees appreciated improved clarity of patient identification (P < .05) and operative laterality (P < .05) with the digital method. About 87% of the respondents preferred the digital version to the standard time-out (75% anesthesia, 89% surgeons, 93% nursing). Although the duration of time-outs increased (49 and 79 seconds for standard and digital time-outs, respectively, P > .001), there was significant improvement in performance of key safety elements.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The multimedia time-out allows improved participation by the surgical team and is preferred to a standard time-out process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA.
authors.forename: Dhriti
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mukhopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jupiter
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA.
authors.forename: William R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Smythe
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Baylor Scott & White Healthcare, Scott & White Memorial Hospital, 2401 South 31st Street, Temple, TX, 76503, USA. Electronic address: hpapaconstantinou@sw.org.
authors.forename: Harry T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Papaconstantinou
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D019212:Multimedia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009873:Operating Rooms / Q000458:organization & administration; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration*; D061214:Patient Safety; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D017751:Safety Management / Q000379:methods; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000379:methods*; D000067494:Time Out, Healthcare / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States
keywords: Multimedia; Patient safety; Surgical safety; Technology; Time-out