Improving quality and patient safety in surgical care through standardisation and harmonisation of perioperative care (SAFEST project): A research protocol for a mixed methods study

• Main Author: Valli, Claudia
• Publication Date: 2024
• Other Authors: Schäfer, Willemijn L.A., Bañeres, Joaquim, Groene, Oliver, Arnal-Velasco, Daniel, Leite, Andreia, Suñol, Rosa, Ballester, Marta, Gibert Guilera, Marc, Wagner, Cordula, Calsbeek, Hiske, Emond, Yvette, Heideveld-Chevalking, Anita J., Kristensen, Kaja, Huibertina Davida van Tuyl, Lilian, Põlluste, Kaja, Weynants, Cathy, Garel, Pascal, Sousa, Paulo, Talving, Peep, Marx, David, Žaludek, Adam, Romero, Eva, Rodríguez, Anna, Orrego, Carola
• Format: Article
• Language: eng
• Source: Repositórios Científicos de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (RCAAP)
• Download full: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/10379
• topic: Patient Safety; Perioperative Care; Epidemiology; Prevention and Control; Quality Improvement; Standards; Protocol; Humans; Europe; SAFEST; Cuidados de Saúde; Melhoria da qualidade; Segurança cuidados saúde

Introduction: Adverse events in health care affect 8% to 12% of patients admitted to hospitals in the European Union (EU), with surgical adverse events being the most common types reported. Aim: SAFEST project aims to enhance perioperative care quality and patient safety by establishing and implementing widely supported evidence-based perioperative patient safety practices to reduce surgical adverse events. Methods: We will conduct a mixed-methods hybrid type III implementation study supporting the development and adoption of evidence-based practices through a Quality Improvement Learning Collaborative (QILC) in co-creation with stakeholders. The project will be conducted in 10 hospitals and related healthcare facilities of 5 European countries. We will assess the level of adherence to the standardised practices, as well as surgical complications incidence, patient-reported outcomes, contextual factors influencing the implementation of the patient safety practices, and sustainability. The project will consist of six components: 1) Development of patient safety standardised practices in perioperative care; 2) Guided self-evaluation of the standardised practices; 3) Identification of priorities and actions plans; 4) Implementation of a QILC strategy; 5) Evaluation of the strategy effectiveness; 6) Patient empowerment for patient safety. Sustainability of the project will be ensured by systematic assessment of sustainability factors and business plans. Towards the end of the project, a call for participation will be launched to allow other hospitals to conduct the self-evaluation of the standardized practices. Discussion: The SAFEST project will promote patient safety standardized practices in the continuum of care for adult patients undergoing surgery. This project will result in a broad implementation of evidence-based practices for perioperative care, spanning from the care provided before hospital admission to post-operative recovery at home or outpatient facilities. Different implementation challenges will be faced in the application of the evidence-based practices, which will be mitigated by developing context-specific implementation strategies. Results will be disseminated in peer-reviewed publications and will be available in an online platform.