Knowledge and attitudes towards the WHO surgical safety checklist among healthcare workers in Mogadishu, Somalia.

BACKGROUND

The World Health Organization (WHO) surgical safety checklist (SSC) is a crucial tool for improving patient safety in surgical settings. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitudes towards WHO SSC among healthcare professionals in Mogadishu, Somalia, and identify factors associated with these outcomes.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2024 among 422 healthcare professionals in Mogadishu. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO SSC, consisting of sociodemographic information, knowledge assessment (12 items), and attitude assessment (7 items). Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used for the data analysis.

RESULTS

The study revealed that 81.04% of participants demonstrated good knowledge of SSC (score > 60%), with a mean knowledge score of 9.59 out of 12 (SD 2.92). However, only 13.51% exhibited a positive attitude towards SSC (score > 60%), despite 87.6% agreeing that SSC improves patient safety. Higher knowledge was significantly associated with professional roles in medicine and surgery (p < 0.001), nursing (p < 0.001), and having a master's degree (p = 0.039). Attitudes were significantly more positive among professionals in medicine and surgery (p < 0.001) and nursing (p = 0.001), but not significantly influenced by education level or years of experience (p > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

While knowledge levels of WHO SSC among healthcare professionals in Mogadishu are generally good, attitudes towards the checklist are mixed, with a low proportion demonstrating positive attitudes. Targeted interventions, including comprehensive training programs and addressing workflow concerns, are recommended to enhance SSC implementation and use in Somali healthcare settings.