Barriers to Effective Perioperative Handoffs: An Interview-Based Qualitative Descriptive Study.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety
• Medical Communication

Background:

• Miscommunication during patient care handoffs is a primary cause of hospital medical errors.
• Standardized handoff methods have not fully resolved issues in the perioperative setting.
• Barriers to effective perioperative handoff communication remain understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and understand persistent barriers to effective perioperative handoffs.
• To explore challenges in handoff communication despite quality improvement initiatives.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing thematic analysis.
• Semistructured face-to-face interviews with perioperative nurses and physicians.
• Coding of interview data into themes and categories.

Main Results:

• Barriers were categorized into administration, communication, and personnel.
• Administration barriers relate to understanding administrative processes.
• Communication barriers involve handoff methods, content, and environment.
• Personnel barriers encompass roles, responsibilities, and staffing.

Conclusions:

• Addressing critical administrative, communication, and personnel barriers is essential for successful perioperative handoffs.
• Hospitals can use interview-based studies to identify handoff barriers.
• Implementing targeted policies can enhance safety in the perioperative space.