Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 19, 2026
Design to Implementation Study for Development and Patient Validation of Paper-Based Toehold Switch Diagnostics
Published on: June 17, 2022
The perioperative handoff protocol: evaluating impacts on handoff defects and provider satisfaction in adult
Michelle A Petrovic1, Hanan Aboumatar2, Adam T Scholl3
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Study Objective:
To evaluate a new perioperative handoff protocol in the adult perianesthesia care units (PACUs).
Design:
Prospective, unblinded cross-sectional study.
Setting:
Perianesthesia care unit in a tertiary care facility serving 55,000 patients annually.
Patients:
One hundred three surgery patients.
Interventions:
During a 4-week preintervention phase, 53 perioperative handoffs were observed, and data were collected daily by a trained observer. Educational sessions were conducted to train perioperative practitioners on the new protocol. Two weeks after implementation, 50 consecutive handoffs were observed, and practitioners were surveyed with the same methodology as in the preintervention phase.
Measurements:
Type of information shared, type and duration of procedure, total duration of handoff, number and type of providers at the bedside, number of report interruptions, environmental distractions, and any other disruptive events. Observers also tracked technical/equipment problems to include malfunctioning or compromised operation of medical equipment, such as the cardiac monitor, transducer, oxygen tank, and pulse oximeter.
Main Results:
A total of 103 handoffs were observed (53 preintervention and 50 postintervention). The mean number of defects per handoff decreased from 9.92 to 3.68 (P < .01). The mean number of missed information items from the surgery report decreased from 7.57 to 1.2 items per handoff and from 2.02 to 0.94 (P < .01) for the anesthesia report. Technical defects reported by unit nurses decreased from 0.34 to 0.10 (P = .04). Verbal reports delivered by surgeons increased from 21.2% to 83.3%. Although the mean duration of handoffs increased by 2 minutes (P = .01), the average time from patient arrival at PACU to handoff start was reduced by 1.5 minutes (P = .01). Satisfaction with the handoff improved significantly among PACU nurses.
Conclusions:
The perioperative handoff protocol implementation was associated with improved information sharing and reduced handoff defects.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Types of Reports I: Hand-off Report
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
01:29SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
01:23Peripheral Artery Disease V: Postoperative Nursing Management
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
01:15Handwashing III: During the Procedure and Post-Procedure Steps
01:23Hand hygiene
Hand washing...