Health professionals’ perspectives on elective surgical cancellations in selected South African public hospitals: A study protocol

Abstract

<ns3:p>Abstract* The efficient functioning of surgical services in public hospitals is a cornerstone of effective healthcare delivery, influencing not only operational performance but also patient outcomes and the overall utilisation of resources within the health system. Elective surgical case cancellations represent a persistent and complex challenge faced by healthcare systems globally, often reflecting systemic inefficiencies and resource limitations. While existing research has predominantly focused on quantifying cancellation rates and categorising causes through retrospective institutional data, few studies have explored the insights of healthcare professionals, key frontline stakeholders who play a critical role in identifying and addressing cancellations. This study seeks to address this gap by examining healthcare professionals’ perspectives on elective surgical case cancellations within selected public hospitals in South Africa. This study will employ a quantitative cross-sectional survey to identify and understand the factors contributing to the cancellations of theatre cases from healthcare professionals’ perspectives. A convenience non-probability sampling technique will be utilised to collect data using a structured questionnaire from healthcare professionals who are readily available and willing to participate during the study period. Quantitative data analysis will involve entering survey data into Microsoft Excel 2021 for Windows and subsequently exporting it to STATA version 18.5 for advanced analysis. Descriptive and categorical data will be compared using frequencies, percentages, and graphical representations. Ethical clearance has been granted by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University, Ref: WSU HREC 051/2025. Approval to access the research sites has been obtained from both the Provincial Health Research Committees of the Eastern Cape (Ref: EC_202505_029) and Mpumalanga (Ref: MP_202506_003) departments. Results will be shared with key stakeholders through public presentations, conferences, and published in peer-reviewed journals.</ns3:p>