Monitoring use of inhalational anaesthetic agents in the operating theatre. Can raising awareness and education of anaesthetists influence practice to reduce waste?

Raising awareness of the environmental and financial costs of volatile agents in the operating theatre and education as to how to reduce waste. The intervention will include education in the form of a 40 minute didactic powerpoint presentation at the start of the project. Cognitive aids in the form of reminders to reduce flows will be placed on every anaesthetic machine in the theatre environment. These reminders will be checked weekly to ensure that they are still in place. A poster will also be placed in the anaesthetic department next to the daily rosters to remind anaesthetists of the low flow approach. An outline of ways to reduce flows and waste will be distributed to all anaesthetists via the monthly bulletin which is delivered by email. Anaesthetists will be asked to check their logbook to ensure compliance with the target. In the initial phase after the education, one staff member will personally move through theatres to assess the compliance with the program and explain approaches for adjusting practice in real time.