Improving patient handover: A narrative review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• The clinical handover process is critical for patient safety and outcomes.
• Effective handovers are essential for continuity of care and preventing medical errors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review existing literature on interventions aimed at improving the effectiveness of clinical handover processes.
• To identify strategies that enhance patient safety during clinical transitions.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted using MEDLINE (EBSCO).
• Inclusion criteria focused on peer-reviewed English-language studies on interventions for clinical handovers.
• Six relevant studies were selected after rigorous screening of 1087 retrieved publications.

Main Results:

• Interventions explored included bedside handovers, education, simulation-based training, and the Transforming Care at the Bedside (TCAB) framework.
• Bedside handovers were associated with decreased handover time and fewer adverse events.
• Education and simulation-based training improved nurses' competence and self-efficacy, while mixed interventions reduced adverse events.

Conclusions:

• Various interventions demonstrated potential in reducing adverse events during clinical handovers.
• Despite positive trends, the evidence supporting the efficacy of these interventions remains limited and inconclusive.
• Further research is necessary to definitively establish the impact of specific interventions on improving clinical handover effectiveness and patient safety.