Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Setting Up a Stroke Team Algorithm and Conducting Simulation-based Training in the Emergency Department - A Practical Guide
Published on: January 15, 2017
Reaching consensus on the definition of person-centred handover practices in emergency departments: A modified online
Santel de Lange1, Tanya Heyns1, Celia Filmalter1
1Department of Nursing Science, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
Aim:
To reach consensus on the definition and attributes of 'person-centred handover practices' in emergency departments.
Background:
Handover practices between emergency care practitioners and healthcare professionals in emergency departments are important and should be conducted meticulously. Person-centred handover practices may enhance the delivery of person-centred care in emergency departments.
Design:
A three-round online Delphi survey.
Methods:
Nine experts participated in a three round Delphi survey. The expert panel comprised experts from nine countries. Quantitative data were descriptively analysed, and qualitative data were thematically analysed. A consensus of 80% had to be reached before an attribute and definition could be accepted.
Results:
Experts reached a consensus of 79% in round one, 95% in round two and 95% in round three. A final set of six attributes were agreed upon and the final concept definition was formulated.
Conclusion:
Person-centred handover practices have not been implemented in emergency departments. Yet, person-centred handover practices may enhance the delivery of person-centred care, which has multiple benefits for patients and healthcare practitioners.
Implications For The Profession And/Or Patient Care:
Person-centred care is not generally implemented in emergency departments. Person-centred handover practices can lead to person-centred care. Handover practices in emergency departments are a high-risk activity. Despite numerous calls to standardise and improve handover practices, they remain a problem. Developing a standardised definition could be a first step towards implementing person-centred handover practices in emergency departments.
Reporting Method:
The study adhered to the relevant EQUATOR reporting guidelines: Guidance on Conducting and Reporting Delphi Studies (CREDES) checklist.
Impact (Addressing):
Improve handover practices and patient care. Improve person-centred care in emergency departments.
Patient Or Public Contribution:
Emergency care practitioners and nurses experienced in handover practices and/or person-centred care, working in clinical and academic fields, participated in the study by sharing their expert knowledge during each of the Delphi rounds.
Related Concept Videos
Types of Reports I: Hands-off Report
Following are the key components and categories of hand-off reports:
Purpose and Process:
SBAR I: Understanding the Concept
Standardized methods of communication have been developed to ensure that information is...
Patient-centered Care
Ethical Dilemmas II
Techniques of therapeutic communication I: Active Listening, Sharing Observations, Validation, and Using Touch
Therapeutic communication is not the same as social interaction. Social interaction has no goal or purpose and consists of casual information sharing, whereas therapeutic communication has a plan or purpose for the conversation. Therapeutic...
Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities

