Resident Workshop Standardizes Patient Handoff and Improves Quality, Confidence, and Knowledge

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Graduate Medical Training

Background:

• Residency programs require handoff instruction, but no Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-endorsed curriculum exists.
• Existing curricula may not be easily implemented or align with current practices.
• A need exists for a practical, efficient handoff educational tool.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a novel handoff educational workshop for pediatric residents.
• To improve resident confidence and performance in patient handoffs.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a standardized handoff approach using the SIGNOUT mnemonic.

Main Methods:

• An observational study involving pediatric residents across postgraduate training years.
• An interactive workshop emphasizing the SIGNOUT mnemonic was developed and delivered.
• Handoff abilities were assessed using a validated tool pre- and post-workshop, supplemented by surveys.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in clinical judgment (P=0.02) and organization/communication (P=0.005).
• Residents reported significant increases in self-perceived confidence, comfort, and knowledge (P<0.001).
• Forty-three residents participated, with 41 completing handoff observations.

Conclusions:

• A standardized handoff approach, particularly through this novel workshop, benefits resident performance, especially for postgraduate year 1 residents.
• The workshop is quickly taught, easily implemented, and suitable for all resident levels.
• Widespread implementation across disciplines may enhance patient safety.