Assessing the Relationship Between Perioperative Nurses’ Knowledge of Surgical Time Out and Its Key Components: A Correlational-Comparative Study

This study examined the relationship between perioperative nurses’ knowledge of the Surgical Time-Out (STO) procedure and their compliance with its key safety components during routine operating room practice. Surgical Time-Out was a critical, standardized patient safety protocol designed to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, or wrong-patient surgical errors by ensuring accurate patient identification, precise surgical site verification, and clear confirmation of the intended procedure before any incision was made. The results revealed significant findings regarding the depth of knowledge, clarity of understanding, and practical application of Surgical Time-Out protocols among the respondents. Specifically, the study assessed the extent to which nurses consistently adhered to essential elements, including effective interdisciplinary team communication, systematic verification of patient identity, unequivocal confirmation of the surgical procedure and operative site, and active coordination among all members of the surgical team. Furthermore, statistical analysis identified statistically significant relationships between demographic variables– including years of experience, educational background, and training attendance– and the measured levels of knowledge and compliance. The findings provided valuable, evidence-based insights into the direct correlation between nurses’ knowledge levels and their consistent compliance with established patient safety protocols, highlighting the urgent need for continuous professional education, regular competency enhancement, and ongoing reinforcement of safety procedures across all surgical settings. Strengthening perioperative nurses’ theoretical knowledge and adherence to Surgical Time-Out protocols can significantly improve overall patient safety culture and minimize the risk of preventable surgical errors.