0055 Sbar (situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) Teaching In Simulation Environment: An Exploration Of Transfer Of Learning To Clinical Workplace

Abstract

Background Failure in handover is a major preventable cause of patient harm and is principally due to human factors of poor communication and systemic error. 1 Our hypothesis states that teaching SBAR in simulation setting will improve communication using SBAR in clinical setting with more frequent use of SBAR in patient handover thus reducing gaps in the continuity of patient care. More recently doctor’s handover is regarded as key area of improvement in patient safety and thus has led to calls for a more structured approach to doctor’s handover. As of 2005 only 8% of US medical schools formally teach regarding handover. 2,3 In this study we are hoping to show an improvement from 50% pre intervention-score to 100% post-score. Methodology Twelve junior doctors will be invited to participate in the study. Informed consent will be obtained from all participants. The participants will be audio recorded giving handover of one patient to the team in clinical setting. Each participant will then be trained on the SBAR tool using simulation scenario. These trainees will be audio recorded again whilst giving handover of one patient to the clinical team in real life. Results recorded to date Ethics and Research and Development approval has been obtained. Recruitment commenced May 2014. In this study to have 50% pre-score and 100% post-score, we require 12 participants. The method of analysis used will be McNemar’s test of equality of paired proportions with a 0.050 two-sided significance level. Potential impact Evidence supports the use of SBAR can help reduce communication errors in handover. Our research has implications on how junior doctors are taught to handover patient information effectively by using SBAR and we are attempting to ensure that clinical handovers are high quality and thus promote patient safety. References The Royal College of Physicians (RCP), Acute Care Toolkit 1: Handover (London, May 2011) 4) NHS Institute for Innovation & Improvement, Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) Solet DJ, Norvell JM, Rutan GH, Frankel RM. Lost in translation: Challenges and opportunities in physician-to-physician communication during patient handoffs. Acad Med 2005;80:1094–1099 Chu ES, Reid M, Schulz T, et al . A Structured Handoff Program for Interns. Acad Med 2009;84:347–352