Case studyPutting Patient Safety First: Improving Surgical Handover Research & Practice

In 2022 The MPS Foundation funded the RCSI to undertake research into Understanding the scope and scale of clinical handover issues in emergency surgery in Ireland (Improving clinical handover after surgery).  This study identified a number of changes that need to be made to improve the communication and consequently the outcomes surrounding surgical handover. Two studies are planned, which are outlined below. 

Study 1 - The effect of a surgical handover intervention on patient outcomes, handover quality, and team experience 

The aim of this interventional study is to improve the handover process and therefore the outcomes for both patient and staff. In particular, it is anticipated that patient outcomes (i.e., vital signs, length of stay, and transfers to higher level of care) will improve after the intervention.  Staff and process-related outcomes should be measured as a baseline, but reducing the risk to patients is of utmost importance. 

Study 2 - Development of a core outcome set for trials in surgical handover 

This study will use a consensus-driven process, involving surgical healthcare professionals, researchers, and patient/public partners, across multiple continents, to develop the first published COS for healthcare communication. This will support standardisation, comparability, and evidence synthesis in future studies of surgical handover between doctors. Importantly, the international steering group that is involved in designing this COS will support dissemination of the study findings and best practice.