Sonal Kapoor
Background
Clear perioperative communication is essential for patient safety and surgical efficiency. This quality improvement project (QIP) evaluated the impact of a patient-centered "Roadmap to Your Breast Surgery" leaflet designed to standardize the perioperative pathway, empower patient preparation, and reduce logistical errors.
Methods
This closed-loop QIP evaluated a patient-centered intervention through pre- and post-implementation multidisciplinary surveys. The information leaflet was benchmarked against RCS Good Surgical Practice, NHS Accessible Information Standards, and national quality improvement frameworks. Alongside the leaflet, targeted staff education was provided. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel, and a re-audit was undertaken to measure clinical impact and procedural sustainability.
Results
Following the intervention, staff rating perioperative pathway clarity as "extremely" or "very clear" increased from 35% to 85%. Staff reporting that patients received sufficient information rose from 60% to 100%. Significant improvements were noted in awareness of preoperative reporting venues (55% to 95%) and day-of-surgery locations (75% to 100%). Satisfaction with preoperative assessment rose from 40% to 100%, while understanding of postoperative care improved from 40% to 95%. Furthermore, staff perceived a reduction in day-of-surgery cancellation rates.
Conclusion
This low-cost, scalable intervention delivered measurable system-level improvements in communication, patient preparedness, and perioperative efficiency. Its success led to rapid trust-wide adoption. The "Roadmap" model serves as a high-impact, transferable lever for enhancing surgical safety and can be easily adapted across diverse surgical specialties to optimize patient outcomes.
Authors
Sonal Kapoor, Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, United Kingdom
Serena Ledwidge, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, United Kingdom