FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTIVE SURGERY PATIENT CANCELLATION IN ESWATINI

Abstract

Elective surgical patient cancellation is a widespread health challenge, with resultant poor patient outcomes. This study assessed the prevalence of elective surgical procedure cancellation in three (3) Hospitals in Eswatini, which were obtained through cluster sampling. A quantitative descriptive correlational design was used. Data were collected from 344 participants booked for elective surgery. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s Correlation, and Chi-square. The mean age of the participants was 32.7 years and ± 3.04 years standard deviation. Seventeen percent (17.4%, n= 60) of the participants had surgery cancelled. The 17.4% prevalence of elective surgery cancellation exceeded international baseline of theatre efficiency measure of less than 5%. Most participants were booked for orthopedics (31.1% n=107) and general surgery (22.7%, n=78). The findings revealed that most cancelled participants were in advanced age and had more co-morbidities compared to younger participants (r=0.457, p= 0.001).There was an association between gender and surgery cancelation (X²=5.397, p=0.023) indicating that gender contributed to cancellation. More males (23%, n=33) had elective surgical procedure cancelled compared to females (13%, n = 27). The majority (83.3% (n = 50) of cancellations were a result of avoidable factors. Furthermore, 37% (n= 22) of cancellations were a result of facility-related, 23% (n=14) patient-related, 20% (n=12) surgeon–related, and 20% (n=12) anaesthesia-related factors. The introduction of pre-operative clinics by the Ministry of Health in all health facilities of Eswatini performing surgeriesis imperative.

Key words: Elective surgery, Cancellation, Optimization, Avoidable, Unavoidable.

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*Corresponding Author: Tengetile R. Mathunjwa-Dlamini, University of Eswatini, Faculty of Health Sciences, Mbabane, Eswatini, Southern Africa. Email:tmathunj@uniswa.sz