Surgical team perceptions of the surgical safety checklist implementation in Indonesian hospitals: a descriptive qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION

The surgical safety checklist (SSC) is designed to improve the safety of surgical procedures, reduce avoidable complications and deaths and foster better communication and collaboration among healthcare providers. Despite the global acceptance of the initiative, there is limited comprehensive research on the challenges, success factors, impact and the role of professional organisations in SSC implementation in Indonesia. This study aimed to explore the implementation of SSC in Indonesia by investigating the challenges, success factors, impact and role of professional organisations in SSC implementation in Indonesia based on the perspective of the surgical team.

METHOD

This descriptive qualitative study, part of a larger research project, employed purposive sampling to select 13 interview participants from surgical teams across hospitals with varying ownership structures, as well as members of surgical-related professional organisations. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants acknowledged the positive impact of SSC on patient safety; however, challenges such as compliance issues, teamwork dynamics and unsafe behaviour persisted. Key success factors included strong organisational and policy support at the institutional level, including hospital accreditation, educational programmes, safety and quality committees, regular audits and workload management. However, professional organisations in Indonesia have not played a significant role in promoting SSC.

CONCLUSION

Effective SSC implementation strategies must target the micro, meso and macro levels for comprehensive success. Future research should prioritise overcoming barriers and harnessing the influence of professional organisations to standardise SSC practices, ultimately enhancing patient safety across healthcare settings.