Analysis of Quality Indicators in Operation Theatres and Intensive Care Units in a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

In the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the emphasis on quality is increasing. This study aims to analyze quality indicators in the main Operation Theatre (OT) complex and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, South India.

Data were retrospectively collected from January 2018 to December 2019 at a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, India. Given the limitations of the study area, a census methodology was used for data collection. A total of eight quality indicators for the Operation Theatre and nine for the Intensive Care Unit were analyzed. During the two-year period, the maximum number of defaults (departures from the benchmark set by the hospital) was calculated and analyzed using Wilcoxon’s signed rank test..

Among the parameters associated with the OT, the percentages of rescheduling surgeries and unplanned returns to the OT had the highest number of departures from the benchmark. In the ICU, the rate of return within 48 hours and the re-intubation rate exhibited the highest departures from the benchmark. The subsequent one-sided Wilcoxon’s signed rank test confirmed that the average rate of departures for these parameters was not statistically significant.

Although the one-sided Wilcoxon W test confirmed that the departures of the aforementioned parameters were not statistically significant, factors such as lack of awareness among staff members about policies and procedures, insufficient continuous education in terms of quality, absence of clear communication, and staff shortage might be reasons why certain indicators analyzed in this study exceeded the benchmark set by the hospital. Addressing these issues is crucial, as quality is increasingly important in the healthcare industry.