Table 2.

Outcome measures and statistical significance of effects reported in the 11 studies included in the review

Study/year (references)	Intervention	Outcome types
		Use of carea	Continuity of careb	Mortalityc	Adverse eventsd
Garcea et al. [39]	Outreach service	✓		✓
Chaboyer et al. [40]	Liaison nurse		✓e
Caffin et al. [41]	Liaison nurse	✓
Zeigler et al. [42]	Medication reconciliation	✓
Eliott et al. [43]	Liaison nurse	✓e		✓
Endacott et al. [44]	Liaison nurse	✓e		✓
Williams et al. [45]	Discharge plan				✓e
Williams et al. [46]	Outreach service	✓		✓
Palma et al. [47]	Neonatal-specific electronic handoff tool		✓e
Medlock et al. [48]	ICU discharge letter policy change and electronic decision support	✓	✓e	✓
Chaboyer et al. [49]	Redesigned discharge process	✓	✓	✓
Total		9	4	7	1

^aUse of care as outcome includes (unplanned) readmissions; readmissions within 72 h; ICU LOS; step-down LOS; general ward LOS; second ICU LOS; hospital LOS; LOS from admission to ICU to hospital discharge; transfer to higher level care; surgical procedure required; incidence of prolonged stress ulcer prophylaxis

^bContinuity of care as outcome includes discharge delay (>2 h; >4 h); average delay time; initial discharge letter formally completed at time of discharge; initial discharge letter for deceased patient completed at time of discharge; time to finalize initial discharge letter; perceived accuracy of sign-out document (very accurate; somewhat accurate; somewhat inaccurate; very inaccurate). Definitions adopted here are from Hellesø and colleagues [17] and are all outcomes that relate to the quality of information, communication, and coordination of care) [20]

^cMortality as outcome includes patient mortality in wards after ICU discharge; ICU mortality; critical care mortality; (in-) hospital mortality; 30-day mortality; unexpected death

^dIncidence of adverse events (AE) as outcome includes AE fluid management; AE respiratory problems; probably preventable AEs; definitely preventable AEs—i.e., unintended occurrences in handover of care potentially causing harm to the patient [20]

^eOutcome with statistically significant effect