Table 1. Nursing Handoff Studies.
Paper | Study Methods | Sample and Size | Acute care setting | Score$ |
---|---|---|---|---|
Patterson, 1995 [25] | Cross-sectional survey | 197 surveys | All units, large medical center | 13 |
Berkenstadt, 2008 [26] | Intervention: handoff checklist; interviews, observations | Pre: 5 interviews, 224 handoff observations, Post: 166 observations | Medical step-down unit | 12.5 |
Miller, 2009[27] | Cohort comparison, content analysis | Cohort A:22 handoff observations, Cohort B: 23 observations | General medical, surgical, trauma intensive care units | 12.5 |
Chaboyer, 2010 [28] | Observational, content analysis | 34 interviews, 532 handoff observations | Medical, surgical and rehabilitation | 12 |
Lamond, 2000 [29] | Content analysis, multidimensional scalogram analysis | 60 audio-taped handoffs and formal written documents | Acute medical and acute surgical units from 2 hospitals | 11.5 |
McFetridge, 2007 [30] | Interviews, focus groups, content analysis | 12 interviews, 2 focus groups, formal handoff document policies | Emergency department to intensive care | 11 |
Welsh, 2010 [31] | Interviews, grounded theory | 20 interviews | General medicine, oncology, and surgical intensive care unit | 11 |
McLane, 2009 [32] | Content analysis | 151 informal written handoff documents | Hematology, thoracic surgery, neurosurgery rehabilitation | 10.5 |
Staggers, 2009 [33] | Observational, content analysis | 53 handoffs observed and audio-taped | Medical and surgical units in 3 acute care facilities | 10.5 |
Currie, 2002 [34] | Cross-sectional survey | 28 surveys | Emergency department | 10 |
Lally, 1999 [35] | Observational, thematic analysis | 6 handoff observations | General surgical and vascular surgery unit | 9.5 |
Sexton, 2004 [36] | Observational, focus group, content analysis | 1 focus group, 23 audiotaped handoffs | General medical | 9 |
Nelson, 2010 [37] | Intervention: computer-based handoff; survey, handoff duration time | Pre, Post, 6-months: 14 handoff durations each, survey unclear | Gastrointestinal surgical oncology unit | 8 |
Fenton, 2006 [38] | Intervention: handoff guide; observations | Pre: 15 handoff observations; Post: 15 handoff observations | Geriatric rehabilitation unit | 7.5 |
Block, 2010 [39] | Intervention: handoff card; random usage audits | Post: 13 audits of usage of formal handoff card | Labor and delivery | 7 |
Sherlock, 1995 [40] | Observational, interviews, thematic analysis | 28 handoff observations, 3 interviews | General medical unit | 7 |
Chaboyer, 2009 [41] | Intervention: Standard bedside handoff guideline; interviews, survey | Interview sample size unclear; 6 months post: 27 surveys | General medical and stroke/rehabilitation | 6 |
Mascioli, 2009[42] | Interviews and surveys | Sample size unclear | Acute care nursing staff | 4 |
Average Score | 9.6 |
Quality Scoring System for Handoff Research Studies, maximum score=16