Development of a Shifting and Receiving Performa for ICU Patients: Reducing Communication Errors-A Delphi Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety in Critical Care
• Clinical Communication Strategies

Background:

• Critically ill patients frequently undergo inter-unit transfers, increasing the risk of communication errors.
• Effective patient handover is crucial for maintaining continuity of care and preventing adverse events in intensive care units (ICUs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a standardized 'Shifting and Receiving Performa' to minimize communication errors during patient transfers into and out of the ICU.
• To enhance the safety and efficiency of patient transportation within a tertiary care hospital setting.

Main Methods:

• A multistage developmental study involving 11 experts in 4 phases.
• Development of a preliminary performa followed by two Delphi rounds for content and face validity assessment.
• Evaluation of interrater reliability and perceived usefulness among staff nurses.

Main Results:

• The performa achieved high content validity, with Content Validity Index (CVI) scores improving after Delphi rounds (e.g., S-CVI/AVG increased from 0.88 to 0.96).
• High interrater reliability (0.95) was established for the performa.
• Staff nurses reported the performa as beneficial, ensuring complete information transfer and reducing communication errors.

Conclusions:

• The developed Shifting and Receiving Performa is a valid and reliable tool for improving patient safety during ICU transfers.
• Implementation of this performa can significantly mitigate communication errors, leading to better patient care outcomes.
• Standardized communication tools are essential for effective patient management in critical care environments.