Abstract
BackgroundEffective clinical handover is a crucial aspect of safe patient care. However, handover is often carried out inadequately, which can have serious consequences for patient safety.PurposeThe study aims to evaluate whether the implementation of a standardized tool, based on the ISBAR model, in an emergency department (ED), could enhance the completeness and accuracy of information exchanged during nursing handovers at shift changes.MethodsThis is a prospective observational cohort study conducted in an ED. A handover evaluation form (HEF) was used to assess the quality of nursing handovers during shift changes, both before and after the introduction of a standardized handover tool, referred to as the "handover framework", based on the ISBAR model.ResultsFollowing the introduction of the handover framework, the median value for nursing handover assessment score was 84.6% (IQR: 74.2%; 100.0%), which was significantly higher than the median score of 77.8% (IQR: 66.7%; 100.0%) observed before the framework's introduction (p < 0.001). Additionally, all indicators of the HEF showed significant improvement after the implementation of the handover framework.ConclusionsThe results suggest that using a standardized tool, consistent with existing literature, can significantly improve nursing handovers in high-intensity, complex care settings. This approach may promote effective communication and the proper transfer of responsibility during shift changes, reducing the risk of information loss and potentially minimizing adverse patient outcomes.
Published Version
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