The use of a visual aid to check anaesthetic machines. Is performance improved?

We asked 20 anaesthetists and seven operating department assistants to check three anaesthetic machines 'doctored' to contain errors of varying seriousness, and recorded their performances. Two weeks later we asked the same group to repeat the test. On the second occasion they followed a visual aid and filled in a questionnaire about the test. Participants showed a significant improvement in the rate of fault detection when using the aid (p < 0.05). The visual aid was most useful at increasing the detection rate of machine leaks. Of the participants, 60% considered that the visual aid was helpful and 74% thought that such an aid should be available in our theatre complex. Sixty-six percent of those questioned felt that a formal check list would be of use.