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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Evaluation of Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation Tool During Neonatal and Pediatric Interfacility
Diane Wilson1, Anuradha Kochar1, Andrew Whyte-Lewis1
1The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
We aimed to determine if the implementation of Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation (SBAR) training improved the quality of real-life telephone communication. We evaluated interfacility neonatal and pediatric transports performed by registered nurses, respiratory therapists, and physicians (MDs).
Methods:
This was a quality improvement study performed to evaluate telephone communication before and after SBAR training. Training consisted of lectures, review of audio files, and simulated role-playing. Recorded audio files of real-life transports were evaluated for clarity and content by 3 raters using a standardized scoring tool.
Results:
Ninety-four and ninety-three calls were evaluated before and after the intervention, respectively. The total item scores were higher posttraining (mean ± standard deviation [pre: 15.06 ± 2.60, post: 17.60 ± 2.61], P < .001). Global rating scores ≥ 4 were higher in the posttraining group (pre: 50.0% vs. post: 66.7%; P = .02; odds ratio = 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.97). There was no significant difference in the duration of calls (mean ± SD [pre: 9.29 ± 4.59 minutes, post: 9.70 ± 4.65 minutes). In subgroup analysis, the total item score was significantly improved posttraining for registered nurses and respiratory therapists but not MDs.
Conclusion:
Standardized SBAR training was effective in improving telephone communication by RNs and RTs. The inclusion of SBAR training routinely within the educational curriculum of transport programs can enhance communication.
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