A Safety Huddle Intervention in In-Patient Surgical Units: A Mixed-Methods Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Patient Safety
• Nursing Practice

Background:

• Nurses often hesitate to voice patient safety concerns, hindering the development of a learning healthcare environment.
• Daily huddles offer a structured approach to create a safe space for open communication regarding patient risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a 12-week daily huddle intervention on unit, nurse, and patient care outcomes.
• To explore nurses' experiences and perceptions of participating in daily huddles.

Main Methods:

• A single-group, pre- and post-test mixed-methods design was employed with 89 staff nurses in a tertiary teaching hospital.
• The intervention involved educational workshops and 12 weeks of unit-level daily huddles with coaching.
• Quantitative data were collected via online surveys, and qualitative data through post-intervention interviews.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in six of nine measured outcomes, including organizational learning, situation monitoring, mutual support, speaking-up climate, nurse voice behaviors, and job satisfaction.
• Qualitative data corroborated the benefits of huddles while also highlighting challenges in participation.
• The intervention positively influenced patient safety and quality of care outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Unit-level daily huddles can effectively promote a learning environment by reducing hierarchy and encouraging nurses to voice safety concerns.
• Leadership plays a crucial role in modeling behavior and establishing a collaborative patient safety culture through initiatives like daily huddles.