Title: | Patient handover between ambulance crew and healthcare professionals in Icelandic emergency departments: A qualitative study |
Author: |
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Date: | 2021-01-28 |
Language: | English |
Scope: | 1-11 |
University/Institute: | Háskólinn á Akureyri University of Akureyri |
School: | Heilbrigðisvísindasvið (HA) School of Health Sciences (UA) |
Department: | Hjúkrunarfræðideild (HA) Faculty of Nursing (UA) Heilbrigðisvísindastofnun (HA) Research Centre for Health Science (UA) |
Series: | Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine;29(1) |
ISSN: | 1757-7241 |
DOI: | 10.1186/s13049-021-00829-x |
Subject: | Ambulance services; Emergency department; Healthcare professionals; Communication; Sjúkraflutningar; Bráðamóttaka; Heilbrigðisstéttir; Samskipti |
URI: | https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11815/2453 |
Citation:Dúason, S., Gunnarsson, B. og Svavarsdóttir, M. H. (2021). Patient handover between ambulance crew and healthcare professionals in Icelandic emergency departments: A qualitative study. Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine, 29(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13049-021-00829-x
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Abstract:Background: Ambulance services play an important role in the healthcare system when it comes to handling
accidents or acute illnesses outside of hospitals. At the time of patient handover from emergency medical
technicians (EMTs) to the nurses and physicians in emergency departments (EDs), there is a risk that important
information will be lost, the consequences of which may adversely affect patient well-being. The study aimed to
describe healthcare professionals’ experience of patient handovers between ambulance and ED staff and to identify
factors that can affect patient handover quality.
Methods: The Vancouver School’s phenomenological method was used. The participants were selected using
purposive sampling from a group of Icelandic EMTs, nurses, and physicians who had experience in patient
handovers. Semi-structured individual interviews were conducted and were supported by an interview guide. The
participants included 17 EMTs, nurses, and physicians. The process of patient handover was described from the
participants’ perspectives, including examples of communication breakdown and best practices.
Results: Four main themes and nine subthemes were identified. In the theme of leadership, the participants
expressed that it was unclear who was responsible for the patient and when during the process the responsibility
was transferred between healthcare professionals. The theme of structured framework described the
communication between healthcare professionals before patient’s arrival at the ED, upon ED arrival, and a written
patient report. The professional competencies theme covered the participants’ descriptions of professional
competences in relation to education and training and attitudes towards other healthcare professions and patients.
The collaboration theme included the importance of effective teamwork and positive learning environment.
Conclusions: A lack of structured communication procedures and ambiguity about patient responsibility in patient
handovers from EMTs to ED healthcare professionals may compromise patient safety. Promoting accountability,
mitigating the diffusion of responsibility, and implementing uniform practices may improve patient handover
practices and establish a culture of integrated patient-centered care.
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