Patient Perception of Involvement in Nursing Bedside Handover: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Healthcare quality and safety
• Nursing practice
• Patient engagement

Background:

• Australian healthcare standards mandate patient involvement in nursing bedside handover.
• Genuine patient participation and consideration of their perspectives in this process remain unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore patient perceptions of their involvement in nursing bedside handovers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in two Australian metropolitan hospitals.
• The survey included demographic, involvement, and perception questions (close-ended, Likert scale, and open-ended).
• Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, comparative analyses, and deductive content analysis of open-ended responses.

Main Results:

• 390 patients participated; over half experienced five or more handovers.
• Most patients (79%) perceived handover importance, and 89.6% were satisfied with their involvement.
• Positive perceptions of handover were common, though hospital type, gender, and age showed some differences. Challenges included lack of awareness, nurse approach, and timing.

Conclusions:

• Patients value and are generally satisfied with bedside handover, viewing it positively.
• Challenges such as lack of awareness, nurse approach, and timing impede effective patient participation.
• Enhancing patient participation in bedside handover is crucial for patient-centred care and quality improvement, aligning with national standards.