title: Use and implementation of standard operating procedures and checklists in prehospital emergency medicine: a literature review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This review aimed to analyze published literature to introduce the use and implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and checklists in prehospital emergency medicine and their impact on guideline adherence and patient outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  An English literature search was carried out using the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer, Elsevier, and ProQuest databases. Original articles describing the use and implementation of SOPs or checklists in prehospital emergency medicine were included. Editorials, comments, letters, bulletins, news articles, conference abstracts, and notes were excluded from the analysis. Relevant information was extracted relating to application areas, development of SOPs/checklists, educational preparation and training regarding SOPs/checklists implementation, staff attitudes and the effects of SOPs/checklists use on guideline adherence and patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The literature search found 2187 potentially relevant articles, which were narrowed down following an abstract review and a full text review. A final total of 13 studies were identified that described the use and implementation of SOPs (9 studies) and checklists (4 studies) in different areas of prehospital emergency medicine including prehospital management of patients with acute exacerbated chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and acute coronary syndrome, prehospital airway management, medical documentation, Emergency Medical Services triage, and transportation of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use and implementation of SOPs and checklists in prehospital emergency medicine have shown some benefits of improving guidelines adherence and patient outcomes in airway management, patient records, identification and triage, and other prehospital interventions. More research in this area is necessary to optimize the future use and implementation of SOPs and checklists to improve emergency personnel performance and patient outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: hzla884309@163.com.
authors.forename: Chulin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: echokanting@163.com.
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 578079960@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: 442932039@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Nursing, School of Nursing, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: guili2000@foxmail.com.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gui
mesh_terms: D057189:Checklist / Q000592:standards*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000592:standards*; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000592:standards*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D061214:Patient Safety