Evaluating the Effect of Simulation-Based Handover Training and Its Predictors: A Quasiexperimental Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Simulation
• Clinical Communication

Background:

• Effective patient handover is crucial for patient safety and continuity of care.
• Nurses' perceived competency in handover directly impacts the quality of information transfer.
• Identifying factors influencing handover competency is essential for targeted educational interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of simulation-based handover training on nurses' perceived handover competency (PC).
• To identify demographic and psychological factors that predict nurses' PC.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, pretest-posttest design was used with 558 nurses from 29 Hong Kong hospitals.
• A 4-hour simulation-based training on the CARE protocol was delivered.
• Validated instruments measured PC and psychological factors pre- and post-intervention; data analyzed using t-tests, correlation, and regression.

Main Results:

• Simulation training significantly improved nurses' PC (Cohen's d = 1.198, p < 0.001).
• Registered nurses and those aged 30-34 showed the greatest PC gains.
• Psychological factors, particularly resilience (β = 0.376) and intention to complete handover (β = 0.320), explained 76.5% of PC variance.

Conclusions:

• Simulation-based training is highly effective for enhancing nursing handover competency.
• Psychological attributes, especially resilience, are stronger predictors of PC than demographic or professional factors.
• Nursing education should integrate resilience-building strategies to optimize clinical communication and handover quality.