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Article
Publication date: 11 February 2019

Konstantinos Dinas, Eleftherios Vavoulidis, Georgios Chrysostomos Pratilas, Alexandros Basonidis, Anastasios Liberis, Leonidas Zepiridis, Alexandros Sotiriadis, Dimitra Papaevangeliou, Aliki Stathopoulou, Eirini Leimoni, Konstantinos Pantazis, Konstantinos Tziomalos, Vassilis Aletras and George Tsiotras

Today, quality management systems (QMS) are a promising candidate for the improvement of healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the opinions/attitudes of…

Abstract

Purpose

Today, quality management systems (QMS) are a promising candidate for the improvement of healthcare services. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the opinions/attitudes of gynecology healthcare professionals toward quality and quality management in healthcare facilities (HFs) in Greece.

Design/methodology/approach

An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to healthcare professionals, asking for opinions on quality objectives associated with the everyday workflow in HFs (e.g. management of patients, resources, etc.) and on QMS. The study was conducted in Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, including 187 participants. Statistical assessment and analysis of the questionnaires were carried out.

Findings

Although 87.5 percent recognized the importance of potential QMS implementation and accreditation, over 50 percent believed that it would lead rather to increased workload and bureaucracy than to any considerable quality improvement. More than 60 percent were completely unaware of the implementation of quality objectives such as quality handbook, quality policy, audit meetings and accreditation status in their HFs. This unawareness was also reported in terms of patient, data, human and general resources management. Finally, awareness over medical malpractice and positive attitude toward official reporting were detected.

Originality/value

Most respondents acknowledged the significance of quality, QMS implementation and accreditation in Greek hospitals. However, there was a critical gap in knowledge about quality management objectives/processes that could be possibly resolved by expert teams and well-organized educational programs aiming to educate personnel regarding the various quality objectives in Greek HFs.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 32 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the attitudes of healthcare professionals in Greece toward safety practices in gynecological Operation Rooms (ORs).

Design/methodology/approach

An anonymous self-administered questionnaire was distributed to surgical personnel asking for opinions on safety practices during vaginal deliveries (VDs) and gynecological operations (e.g. sponge/suture counting, counting documentation, etc.). The study took place in Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki including 227 participants. The team assessed and statistically analyzed the questionnaires.

Findings

Attitude toward surgical counts and counting documentation, awareness of existence and/or implementation in their workplace of other surgical safety objectives (e.g. WHO safety control list) was assessed. In total, 85.2 percent considered that surgical counting after VDs is essential and 84.9 percent admitted doing so, while far less reported counting documentation as a common practice in their workplace and admitted doing so themselves (50.5/63.3 percent). Furthermore, while 86.5 percent considered a documented protocol as necessary, only 53.9 percent admitted its implementation in their workplace. Remarkably, 53.1 percent were unaware of the WHO safety control list for gynecological surgeries.

Originality/value

Most Greek healthcare professionals are well aware of the significance of surgical counting and counting documentation in gynecology ORs. However, specific tasks and assignments are unclear to them. Greek healthcare professionals consider surgical safety measures as important but there is a critical gap in knowledge when it comes to responsibilities and standardized processes during implementation. More effective implementation and increased personnel awareness of the surgical safety protocols and international guidelines are necessary for enhanced quality of surgical safety in Greece.

Details

International Journal of Health Care Quality Assurance, vol. 32 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0952-6862

Keywords

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