%0 Journal Article
%T Assessing current handover practices in surgery: A survey of non-consultant hospital doctors in Ireland.
%A Ryan JM
%A Simiceva A
%A Toale C
%A Eppich W
%A Kavanagh DO
%A McNamara DA
%J Surgeon
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 May 11
%M 38735800
%F 2.632
%R 10.1016/j.surge.2024.04.011
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Handovers of care are potentially hazardous moments in the patient journey and can lead to harm if conducted poorly. Through a national survey of surgical doctors in Ireland, this paper assesses contemporary surgical handover practices and evaluates barriers and facilitators of effective handover.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>After ethical approval and pre-testing with a representative sample, a cross-sectional, online survey was distributed to non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) working in the Republic of Ireland. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining data using triangulation design.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>A total of 201 responses were received (18.5%). Most participants were senior house officers or senior registrars (49.7% and 37.3%). Most people (85.1%) reported that information received during handover was missing or incorrect at least some of the time. One-third of respondents reported that a near-miss had occurred as a result of handover within the past three months, and handover-related errors resulted in minor (16.9%), moderate (4.9%), or major (1.5%) harm. Only 11.4% had received any formal training. Reported barriers to handover included negative attitudes, a lack of institutional support, and competing clinical activities. Facilitators included process standardisation, improved access to resources, and staff engagement.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Surgical NCHDs working in Irish hospitals reported poor compliance with international best practice for handover and identified potential harms. Process standardisation, appropriate staff training, and the provision of necessary handover-related resources is required at a national level to address this significant patient safety concern.