Cancellation of elective surgery and associated factors among patients scheduled for elective surgeries in public hospitals in Harari regional state, Eastern Ethiopia

Damte Adugna; Teshager Worku; Ahmed Hiko; Merga Dheresa; Shiferaw Letta; Addisu Sertsu; Haregeweyn Kibret

doi:10.3389/fmed.2023.1036393

Cancellation of elective surgery and associated factors among patients scheduled for elective surgeries in public hospitals in Harari regional state, Eastern Ethiopia

Front Med (Lausanne). 2023 Apr 4:10:1036393. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1036393. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Damte Adugna¹, Teshager Worku¹, Ahmed Hiko¹, Merga Dheresa¹, Shiferaw Letta¹, Addisu Sertsu¹, Haregeweyn Kibret¹

Affiliation

¹ School of Nursing and Midwifery, College of Health Medical Sciences, Haramaya University, Harar, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Canceling elective surgeries is a significant problem in many hospitals leading to patient dissatisfaction, increased costs, and emotional trauma for patients and their families. Despite this, there is limited information about the cancellation of elective surgeries in Ethiopia, mainly in the study area.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of cancellation and associated factors among patients scheduled for elective surgeries in public hospitals in the Harari Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia, from 1 August to 30 August 2021.

Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 378 patients scheduled for elective surgeries. Data were gathered using a non-random sequential sampling approach. In addition, a structured face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaire was employed. The gathered information was input into Epidata version 3.1 and then exported to Statistical Package for Social Software version 26. To find the variables associated with the cancellation of elective surgeries, binary and multi-variable logistic regression analyses were conducted. In the binary analysis, all variables with a p-value of less than 0.25 were included in the multivariable analysis. Finally, a 0.05 p-value with a 95% confidence interval and an adjusted odds ratio was used to declare a significant association.

Results: This study included 378 patients scheduled for elective surgeries. Among those, 35.2% of the surgeries were canceled (95% confidence interval: 29.4-39.6). Being female (adjusted odds ratio: 2.46; 95% confidence interval: 1.44-4.203), lack of formal education (adjusted odds ratio: 2.03; 95% confidence interval: 1.15-3.58), place of residence (adjusted odds ratio: 1.70; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-2.81), increase in blood pressure (adjusted odds ratio: 5.09; 95% confidence interval:1.90-13.59), and ophthalmologic surgery (adjusted odds ratio: 3.76; 95% confidence interval: 1.41-10.0) were factors associated with the cancellation of elective surgeries.

Conclusion: In this study, nearly one third of scheduled elective surgery was canceled. The primary contributing variables to the surgery cancellations were being female, lack of formal education, place of residence, ophthalmologic surgery, and increased blood pressure. Therefore, timely evidence-based reporting through the supervision team was advised to decrease cancellations.

Keywords: Ethiopia; Harar; cancellation; elective surgery; operation theatre.