Improvement project titles with summary of changes and results
| Project title | Summary of changes and results |
| April 2016, year 5 students in three teams | End of project data |
| 1. Improving the management and satisfaction of medical and surgical boarded patients in the ear nose and throat wards (three students) | Patient experience and satisfaction survey and interviews were used to design and test a patient information card. Ward staff committed to ensure they are giving out these information cards to all boarders. |
| 2. Using patient engagement to improve thromboembolism-deterrent (TED) stocking compliance in the acute surgical receiving unit (two students) | Designed and tested a data collection tool and education sheet for patients with TED stockings. Use of TED stockings at 48–72 hours postsurgery improved from 60% to 70%. |
| 3. Venous thromboembolism prophylaxis and patient understanding in a medical ward (three students) | Designed and tested a patient information leaflet; introduced reminders at daily patient safety briefs. Patients receiving information improved from 30% to 50%. |
| May 2016, year 2 or 3 students in three teams | Changes after 6 months |
| 1. Improving compliance with the sign in section of the WHO surgical checklist (three students) | Designed and tested posters in the anaesthetic room, a ‘bundle’ of all relevant documents and sticker reminders about the WHO checklist. Compliance with sign in improved from 30% to 80%. Changes maintained by theatre team. |
| 2. Improving the monitoring of endotracheal and laryngeal cuff pressures (two students) | Introduced manometers into the West Block theatres, initiated a staff training programme and designed a reminder and information sheet for display in each theatre. Median compliance with pressure monitoring increased from 33% to 90%. Changes maintained by West Theatre team. |
| 3. Improving the emergency theatre safety brief (three students) | Designed and tested a structured prompt to improve reliability with 10 items in the preoperative safety brief (SAFEST-TEAM). Median occurrence of safety briefs increased from 50% to 100% and material covered increased from 36% to 58%. Structured prompt maintained by emergency theatre team. |
SAFEST-TEAM, Surgical summary; Anaesthetic summary; Fluids/fasting; Exposure/patient position; Sugars/diabetic control; Transfusion requirement/estimated blood loss; Thromboprophylaxis; Equipment check; Allergies; Microbiology—antibiotics required?