Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 39 No. 1 (2021) / Articles

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Published:

Jun 17, 2021

Keywords:

Elective surgery; cancellation; deferment; rural setting; Uganda

Issue

Vol. 39 No. 1 (2021)

Section

Articles

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Bienfait Mumbere Vahwere

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Franck Katembo Sikakulya

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda; Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Graben, Butembo, Democratic Republic of Congo

Robinson Ssebuufu

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Soria Jorge

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Xaviour Francis Okedi

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Shaban Abdullah

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Patrick Kyamanywa

Department of Surgery, Kampala International University, Kampala, Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: the cancellation of elective surgery is still a worldwide challenge and this is associated with emotional and economical trauma for the patients and their families as well as a decrease in the efficiency of the operating theatre. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with cancellation and deferment of elective surgery in a rural private tertiary teaching hospital in Western Uganda.

Methods: a cross-sectional study design was conducted. Data was collected from 1^st July 2019 to 31^st December 2019. Patients scheduled for elective surgery and either cancelled or deferred on the actual day of surgery were included in the study. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 15.

Results: four hundred patients were scheduled for elective surgery during the study period, among which 90 (22.5%) were cancelled and 310 (78.5%) had their surgeries as scheduled. The highest cancellation of elective surgical operations was observed in general surgery department with 81% elective cases cancelled or deferred, followed by orthopedic department 10% and gynecology department 9%. The most common reasons for cancellation were patient-related (39%) and health worker-related (35%) factors. Other factors included administrative (17%) and anesthesia related factors (9%). Cancellation was mainly due to lack of finances which accounted for 23.3% of the patients, inadequate patient preparation (16.6%) and unavailability of surgeons (15.5%). Major elective surgeries were cancelled 1.7 times more than minor electives surgeries [adjusted prevalence ratio 1.7 (95%CI: 1.07-2.73) and p-value: 0.024].

Conclusion: cancellation and deferment of elective surgeries is still of a major concern in this private rural tertiary hospital with most of the reasons easily preventable through proper scheduling of patients, improved communication between surgical teams and with patients; and effective utilization of available resources and man power.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688