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Increasing awareness of the impact of high volumes of foot traffic in operating rooms on patient outcomes among clinicians and support staff
Thesis

Increasing awareness of the impact of high volumes of foot traffic in operating rooms on patient outcomes among clinicians and support staff

Meneka Bansal
Master of Public Health (M.P.H.), Drexel University
Jun 2012
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-3949
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Bansal_Meneka_20122.42 MB
PDF Project Access upon request, Email title, URL, or DOI to archives@drexel.edu
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Bansal_Meneka_2012_Suppl1422.01 kB
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Abstract

Patient Outcomes Operating rooms Foot Traffic Public Health
Background: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania's perioperative leadership took upon an initiative to understand and measure foot traffic during surgical cases and its relation to patient outcomes. Theoretically, higher traffic could lead to an increased risk of surgical site infections (SSI). This study aims to collect and analyze Operating Room (OR) traffic using a door counter and to understand clinicians' participation and perceptions of heavy OR traffic. Objectives: To understand how OR traffic can affect surgical outcomes; to measure and analyze OR traffic; highlight reasons why there is heavy OR traffic; and provide recommendations to reduce OR Traffic. Methods: Quantitative data was collected to measure how often clinicians pass through the door during a case. Additionally, OR environmental conditions were measured and compared with the door counter data. Interviews were conducted to understand the environmental and cultural conditions of the OR. Surveys with clinicians were also administered to assess perceptions of OR traffic. Results: Researchers analyzed 108 surgical cases. An average of 33 passages occurred per hour during a case. Supplies, equipment and communication were determined as the main causes of traffic. Conclusions: Researchers were unable to find one major source of excessive OR traffic. Several behavioral factors contribute to high rates of traffic and these influences vary with OR role. Without the ability to correlate SSI's with OR traffic, the recommended method to reduce unnecessary traffic in the OR involves increasing awareness through educational efforts.

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