Bakgrund: överlämningar från ambulans till akutmottagning sker varje dag. Bristande kommunikation riskerar att försena diagnostik och behandling, vilket kan leda till ökat vårdlidande för patienter. Situation, bakgrund, aktuell bedömning och rekommendation (SBAR) utvecklades för att minska riskerna för brister i kommunikation i kritiska moment. Tidigare studier har undersökt följsamheten till SBAR vid överlämningar på akutmottagning men inte specifikt vid tidskritiska tillstånd. Syftet med denna studie är att studera följsamheten till SBAR vid överrapportering av patienter med ett tidskritiskt tillstånd samt undersöka skillnad mellan kirurg- och medicinlarm. Resultat: Ingen av de observerade rapporterna hade 100% följsamhet. Under situation rapporterades sällan patientens kön, patientens namn inkluderades i 88% av rapporterna. Händelser samt symtom och skador inkluderades i alla rapporter. Under bakgrund inkluderade 81% av rapporterna både tidigare sjukdomar av betydelse och förlopp senaste 24 timmarna. I 33% av rapporterna var information om ABCDE komplett och 64% inkluderade kompletta vitalparametrar. Under rekommendation hade ingen rapport information rörande alla tre underrubriker. Endast fyra rapporter innehöll någon rekommendation. Given behandling, infarter, patientens hemmiljö samt tolkbehov rapporterades ostrukturerat under rekommendation.   Slutsats: Vid rapport av patienter med tidskritiska tillstånd fann vi att få rapporter följde grundstrukturen i SBAR. Situation och bakgrund hade genomgående en hög följsamhet medan aktuellt visade lägre följsamhet. Vidare noterades vissa skillnader mellan kirurglarm och medicinlarm. Rekommendation hade lägst följsamhet och innehöll ofta ostrukturerad information. Man kan överväga om inte andra rapportsystem som mer speglar given behandling kan förbättra rapporten av utförd vård prehospitalt. Fler och större studier rörande rapportsystem och följsamhet bör utföras.

Communication errors are frequent during the perioperative period and cause clinical incidents and adverse events. The overall aim of the thesis was to study communication – the transfer of information, especially the postoperative handover – between healthcare personnel in an anaesthetic clinic and the effects of using the communication tool SBAR (Situation-Background-Assessment-Recommendation) from a patient safety perspective. The thesis is based on studies using a correlational (Paper I), quasi-experimental (Paper II and III) and descriptive (Paper IV) design. Data were collected using digitally recorded and structured observations of handovers, anaesthetic records, questionnaires, incident reports and focus group interviews. The results from baseline data showed that lack of structure and long duration of the verbal postoperative handover decreased how much the receiver of postoperative handover remembered; the item most likely not to be remembered by the receiver was anaesthetic drugs. The variation in remembered information showed that there were room for improvement (Paper I). Implementing the communication tool SBAR increased memorized information among receivers following postoperative handover. Interruptions were frequent during postoperative handover, which negatively affected memorized information (Paper III). Furthermore, after implementation of SBAR, the personnel’s perception of communication between professionals and the safety climate improved, and the proportion of incident reports related to communication errors decreased in the intervention group (Paper II). The results of the focus group interviews revealed that the nurse anaesthetists, anaesthesiologists and post-anaesthesia care unit nurses had somewhat different focuses and views of the postoperative handover, but all professional groups were uncertain about having all information needed to secure the quality of postoperative care (Paper IV). The findings indicate that using a predictable structure during postoperative handover may improve the information memorized by the receiver, perception of communication between professionals and perception of safety climate. Incidents related to communication errors may also decrease. Long duration of the handover and interruptions may negatively affect the information memorized by receiver. To ensure high quality and safe care, there is a need to achieve a shared understanding across professionals of their work in its entirety.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the usefulness of SBAR-cued web-based communication skills training and address study participants' perceptions of the training. Specific Aims: Evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of participants to answer prompts of SBAR-cued communication responses. Describe individuals' perspectives of the acceptability of using SBAR patient-HCP communication simulation to better prepare for ED visits during a SCC. Framework: This study was guided by The Theory of Self-Care Management for Sickle Cell Disease (SCMSCD). Design: A secondary analysis was conducted using a qualitative descriptive approach. Inter-rater reliability (IRR) of qualitative data was used to evaluate the usefulness and accuracy of participants to answer prompts of SBAR-cued communication responses. Content analysis was also utilized to describe individuals' perspectives of the acceptability of using SBAR patient-HCP communication simulation to better prepare for ED visits during a SCC. Results: IRR between raters ranged from 64%-94% with predominant themes of (1) Patient-Provider Communication and Interaction, (2) Patients want to be Heard and Believed, (3) Accuracy of the ED Experience and Incorporating the Uniqueness of each Patient and (4) Overall Usefulness of the Video Trainer emerging. Conclusions: This secondary analysis supported how SBAR can be effectively used to assist patients in a SCC to communicate with their HCP. Participants' responses indicated the training module facilitated communication between patients and HCPs.

The Effect of a Quality Improvement Initiative on Reducing Hospital Transfers of Nursing Home Residents by Denise Eileen Jarboe MSN, Walden University, 2010 BS, University of Maryland, 1981 Project Study Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice Walden University February 2015 Nursing homes (NH) in the 21st century provide skilled healthcare services for resident populations who are older, frailer, and often suffering from multiple incurable chronic medical conditions. Nurses practicing in this setting must be keen observers and effective communicators with the ability to recognize and report subtle changes in health status that may lead to an avoidable or unnecessary hospital transfer. The purpose of this DNP project was to evaluate the impact of a quality assurance performance improvement (QAPI) initiative implementing the INTERACTTM (interventions to reduce acute care transfers) SBAR (situation, background, assessment/appearance, recommendation) communication tool in a skilled NH setting. The Synergy Model, which posits that optimal patient outcomes are possible when nurse competency is matched or synergized with patient care needs, provided the conceptual framework for this project. To evaluate the effect of the program, resident hospital transfer events groups before and after SBAR utilization (n = 295) were analyzed using a dependent t test to determine if significant differences existed in the groups in overall number of transfers, clinical condition categories, and those leading to an inpatient hospitalization. Although analysis of the data did not demonstrate significant decreases in resident transfer events, the results did provide valuable baseline information for future studies. This project contributed to social change by evaluating communication among care providers in a skilled NH setting, establishing baseline information and identifying the need for future projects. This information is vital for determining which resident transfers to the hospital are avoidable and for developing future programs addressing this practice issue.