Authors (including presenting author) :
Leung MYA(1), Kwong PS(1), Ng LK(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Operating Theatre, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals
Introduction :
ISBAR is a well-known tool for handover in clinical settings. Originally ISBAR stands for Identity, Situation, Background, Assessment and Recommendation. In order to facilitate handover in OT setting by better use of ISBAR, we have modified ISBAR in terms of: Identity, Surgical procedure and outcome, Background history and allergic history, Anesthesia and care, Record of medication.
Objectives :
1. To improve staff's communication
2. To improve clinical efficiency
3. To enhance patient safety
Methodology :
Methodology was adopted by giving questionnaires to nursing staff in May 2019 as initial assessment. Contents included their review for current practice of handover in OT. 100% nursing staff have encountered incomplete handover, in which 10% nursing staff have come across more than 7 times in a week. The most easily missed out items during handover included patient’s sex, patient’s age and diagnosis.
ISBAR was introduced in end of May 2019 for use. It has been on trial for 4 weeks in the PACU area. Evaluation was made by collecting feedbacks via questionnaires after the trial.
Result & Outcome :
ISBAR was widely supported by nursing staff that 73% of them have utilized the tool for more than 60% of the time for handover. Meanwhile, positive comments were received and those included: it is helpful in communication (73 %); it is systematic (66%) and it decreases handover incompleteness (66%). There was a drawback that 13% of the staff thought that using ISBAR was time consuming, though it was a minority. Lastly, with the use of ISBAR, only 27% nursing staff have encountered incomplete handover.
