Aim: We aimed to review studies that assess the effectiveness of World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist and to shed light on future research. Method: In the descriptive study, we reviewed original publications retrieved by a selective search Pubmed/MEDLINE and Cochrane Library databases on the search term “surgical safety checklist”,“WHO surgical safety checklist”, “effectiveness” and “effect”. 49 articles published before November 2015 were discussed. The results of effectiveness in terms of compliance, complication and mortality rates, patient safety, team communication, staff and patient satisfaction and cost were evaluated. Results: While the “Time out” section was identified as the most easy section of compliance, the “Sign out” section was identified as the most difficult section. There was a significant decrease in complication and mortality rates after the use of checklist. With the use of the checklist, the reduction in unplanned return, reoperations rate and adverse effects, while there was an increase in awareness of the identity of the patient and in the medical condition of the patient. There was an increase in team communication and a decrease in communication errors. Operating room expenses reduced. Patient satisfaction increased from 57.1% to 90.8%. 50% to 95% of the health workers were positive to implementation of the list. Conclusion: With the use of the checklist, significant reductions were in complication, mortality rate, teamwork and communication were developed. Due to reduction in unplanned return rate and in adverse effects, the increase in verification of the patient's identity and awareness of the patient's medical condition, checklist improves patient safety. Surgical safety checklist should be recommended as a tool for improving team communication, collaboration and patient safety.