Clinical handover: the importance, problems and educational interventions to improve its practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Communication
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Quality Improvement

Background:

• Clinical handover represents a critical juncture in patient care.
• Advanced communication skills are integral to medical practice.
• Patient safety is increasingly linked to effective information transfer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the significance of clinical handover.
• To underscore the necessity for enhancing communication during handovers.
• To advocate for improvements in handover processes.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on clinical handover.
• Analysis of communication challenges in medical settings.
• Identification of areas for process improvement.

Main Results:

• Clinical handover is a complex communication event.
• Inadequate communication during handover poses risks to patient safety.
• Targeted improvements can enhance the effectiveness of clinical handovers.

Conclusions:

• The importance of clinical handover in ensuring patient safety is well-established.
• There is a clear need for structured interventions to improve handover communication.
• Investing in better handover practices is vital for quality healthcare.