Breaking the Shackles of Myths: Changing the Culture of Operating Theatre

In almost every society certain practices are so deeply rooted that they become part of the culture and get imparted from one generation to another. Perhaps they had a reason to be started in the beginning, but an organisation based strictly on the principles of evidence based science, such practices need to be identified and if proven wrong, must be abolished. This was the fundamental theme of this change project. A few of such “habits” in a private hospital were identified. These practices have been undertaken with a background of infection control for many years in number of other institutions as well. A change project was planned to be implemented so that such ritualistic practices could be abolished and the job could be done in accordance with the current evidence based guidelines. A literature research was done about the background of three practices i.e., preoperative shaving, wearing facial masks during surgery and placing some infected cases at the end of theatre lists. The project was designed on the framework of HSE change model. The results were evaluated both quantitatively and qualitatively. Infection control parameters were monitored closely and results were compared between before and after the change. Feedback questionnaires were formulated both from patients’ and staffs’ perspective. The project was successful in achieving its aims and the general consensus at the end of six month period in the organisation is to continue with the new practices.