Descriptive Analysis of the Design, Implementation, and Evaluation of Structured Anesthesia Handoff Protocols in Current Literature

Abstract

The transfer of anesthesia patient information within a perioperative setting is susceptible to many barriers that prevent effective communication. Several studies have aimed to combat these barriers by successfully developing and implementing structured communication protocols. The purpose of this review is to provide a synthesis of the current state of literature in order to guide practice and future research into the development, implementation, and evaluation of anesthesia patient handoff protocols. Four databases were searched based on inclusion criteria, resulting in 33 studies that were reviewed for this analysis. Results show there are many methods used in current literature to design, implement, and evaluate anesthesia handoff protocols, suggesting little consensus for best practice. Future handoff studies should ensure they fully report all details associated with the development and evaluation of their anesthesia handoff protocols to promote replicability and guidance for other practitioners.