PREVENTING INADVERTENT HYPOTHERMIA IN ADULT SURGICAL PATIENTS: A QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a significant concern in surgical settings, leading to post-operative complications such as prolonged hospital stays, infection, and increased mortality. This quality improvement project aimed to educate operating room staff on evidence-based strategies to prevent perioperative hypothermia, thereby improving patient outcomes. The intervention included a structured educational module on maintaining normothermia, emphasizing pre-warming techniques, fluid warming devices, and standardized temperature monitoring. A quasi-experimental pre-post study design assessed changes in staff knowledge and patient normothermia rates before and after the intervention. Data analysis demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in staff knowledge scores (p = 0.015) and an increase in normothermia rates from 93.43% to 98.3%. The findings suggest that targeted education enhances adherence to best practices, reducing the incidence of hypothermia-related complications. Sustaining this intervention through continued education and policy reinforcement is recommended to ensure long-term improvements in perioperative patient care.