Authors (including presenting author) :
Chan HK(1), Shek WMN(1), Lui F(2)
Affiliation :
(1)O&G department, Queen Mary Hospital, (2)Anaesthesia department, Queen Mary Hospital
Introduction :
Traditionally all patients are transferred to operating theatre via transport trolleys. However, evidence had proven the drawback of this tranditional practice on patient's psychological condition before operation, e.g. increases pre-operative stress, anxiety and fear; having sense of sickness; lost of self-control etc. Except few cases with mild to moderate pain before operation, most of the patients did perfer to walk to theatre by their own. As healthcare professional, we survive for the evidence based patient-centred practice instead of tradition-based one. This is why we launch this feasibility study to allow elective caesarean mothers to walk to operating theatre with accompany by a nurse-midwife.
Objectives :
To promote evidence based patient-centred approach in sending patient to operating theatre
To optimize patient psychological well-being before operation
To reduce unnecessary manual handling inside theatre
Methodology :
All pregnant women undergo elective caesarean session in Queen Mary Hospital from 16/12/2019 to 3/1/2020 were offered the choice to walk to theatre and a satisfaction survey would be completed before discharge.
Result & Outcome :
In all, 22 cases were offered the choice to walk to the theatre. All the patients expressed a preference to walk to the theatre instead of using trolley if choice was offered. They appreciated the choice provided and felt less stress / anxious before operation and having a sense of self-control. Staff also welcome the changes as it reduced delay in transferring patients to theatre and enhanced the smoothness of operation inside theatre. Nursing / supporting staff could also be released to carry out other job when unnecessary manual handling or transfer were being reduced. These results suggested that allowing patient to walk to the theatre is a feasible, cost-effective, safe and preferable practice for elective caesarean section in obstetrics operating theatre.
