Application, verification and correction from an elaborate checklist with some of the recommendations («do and do not do») of the SEMICYUC working groups.

Objective: Based on some of the recommendations of the SEMICYUC working groups, we developed a checklist and applied it in 2 periods, analyzing their behavior as a tool for improving safety.

Design: A comparative pre- and post-intervention longitudinal study was carried out.

Setting: The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a 400-bed university hospital.

Patients: Random cases series in 2 periods separated by 6 months.

Interventions: We developed a checklist with 24 selected indicators that were randomly applied to 50 patients. Verification was conducted by a professional not related to care (prompter). We analyzed the results and compliance index and carried out corrective measures with training. With 6 months of preparation, we again applied the random checklist to 50 patients (post-intervention period) and compared the compliance indexes between the two timepoints.

Results: There were no differences in demographic characteristics or evolution between the periods. The compliance index at baseline was 0.86±0.12 versus 0.91±0.52 in the post-intervention period (P=.023). An acceptable compliance index was obtained with the 24 indicators, though at baseline the compliance index was<0.85 for 5 recommendations. These detected non-compliances were worked upon through training in the second phase of the study. The post-intervention checklist evidenced improvement in compliance with the recommendations.

Conclusions: The checklist used to assess compliance with a selection of recommendations of the SEMICYUC applied and moderated by a prompter was seen to be a useful instrument allowing us to identify points for improvement in the management of Intensive Care Unit patients, increasing the quality and safety of care.