Northern Ireland General Surgery Handover Study: surgical trainees' assessment of current practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Surgical Training

Background:

• Effective clinical handover is critical for patient safety.
• General surgical departments in Northern Ireland (NI) were assessed for handover practices.
• Trainees' perspectives on handover quality were investigated.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify current patient handover practices in NI general surgery.
• To assess surgical trainees' satisfaction and perception of handover safety.
• To compare handover experiences between different emergency cover systems.

Main Methods:

• A postal questionnaire was distributed to 90 general surgical trainees (BST and HST) in NI.
• Data collected anonymously on handover timing, location, duration, participation, and quality.
• Trainee satisfaction and perceived safety were evaluated using a Likert scale.

Main Results:

• 69% of trainees responded (62/90), with 49% reporting multi-grade doctor participation in handover.
• Only 13% received formal handover training; 47% believed current practice ensured patient safety.
• Trainees in 'surgeon of the week' systems reported higher satisfaction (1.82 vs 1.31) and perceived safety (56% vs 37%).

Conclusions:

• General surgical trainees in NI express significant concerns about current patient handover.
• The 'surgeon of the week' emergency cover system is associated with improved trainee satisfaction and perceived patient safety.
• Enhancements in handover protocols are needed to ensure consistent patient safety across all general surgical departments.