Explore the vast range of titles available.

Surgical operative notes play a critical role in patient care, serving as legal documents and communication tools among healthcare professionals. However, inconsistencies in documentation can compromise patient safety and continuity of care. This study aimed to evaluate and improve the quality of surgical operative notes at Elobeid Teaching Hospital through structured interventions. A two-phase audit was conducted at the hospital's Department of Surgery, comprising a retrospective phase followed by a prospective phase. In the retrospective phase, 50 operative notes were reviewed to establish a baseline for documentation completeness and accuracy. Following this, an intervention was implemented, which included the introduction of a standardized template based on the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCSEng) guidelines and training sessions for surgical staff. In the prospective phase, 34 operative notes were analyzed to evaluate the impact of the intervention. The completeness and accuracy of documentation were assessed using predefined parameters in both phases. In the pre-intervention phase, significant deficiencies were noted in key documentation areas such as anticipated blood loss (0%), deep vein thrombosis (DVT) prophylaxis (2%), and postoperative care instructions (34%). Following the intervention, substantial improvements were observed, with compliance rates reaching 97-100% in several key parameters. The most notable improvements were seen in the documentation of anticipated blood loss (0-97%), prophylactic antibiotic use (20-100%), and DVT prophylaxis (2-82%). Implementing a standardized documentation template and providing staff training significantly enhanced the quality of surgical operative notes. Continued auditing and reinforcement of best practices are recommended to sustain these improvements and further optimize patient care.

Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are a critical concern in healthcare, particularly in developing countries, where they are among the most prevalent and challenging hospital-acquired infections. Adherence to proper hand hygiene practices is essential to prevent SSIs. However, compliance among surgical teams remains suboptimal due to factors such as time constraints, lack of training, and resource limitations. This study evaluates and enhances adherence to surgical hand scrubbing protocols at Osman Degna Teaching Hospital using World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Methods An observational cross-sectional audit was conducted in two cycles between August and October 2024, with 54 observations per cycle. Baseline adherence was assessed in the first cycle. Targeted interventions, including video demonstrations, hands-on training, and feedback, were implemented before the second cycle. Data were collected using a structured checklist and analyzed quantitatively to compare compliance rates and qualitatively to identify barriers to adherence. Results Compliance with hand scrubbing protocols improved significantly from 63.1% in the first cycle to 94.3% in the second. The most notable improvement (51.5%) was observed in rotational rubbing with clasped fingers. Other areas, including scrubbing palms and rinsing hands, showed substantial increases (30.3-42%). These findings highlight the effectiveness of structured training and feedback in enhancing adherence. Conclusion Targeted educational interventions significantly improved compliance with surgical hand scrubbing protocols, contributing to better infection control practices. While these improvements demonstrate the potential of training programs, continued efforts and long-term strategies are necessary to sustain progress and further reduce the risk of SSIs.