Summary of literature
| Article (first author) | Methodology | Findings and conclusions |
| Gandhi3 | Case study of errors | Multiple handoffs can lead to diffused responsibility, necessitating clear lines of responsibility |
| Vidyarthi4 | Case and commentary | Discontinuity in hospitals is inevitable, especially with shifts. “Sign-out” should be standardised |
| Horn5 | Survey of UK anaesthesia handover practice | Little formalisation, differing opinions on key considerations. Guidelines, standardisation and documentation would help |
| Kerr6 | Observation and interviews of nurse handover—sociotechnical perspective | Handover is complex, with social and educational aspects |
| Manias7 | Ethnographic study of nursing handover | Identified practices within handover, including tyranny of busyness, tyranny of tidiness and need to identify sense of finality |
| Lally8 | Observational study | Team building was a stronger theme than transfer of patient information during nursing handover |
| Sherlock9 | Observational study | Handover is complex, with variable quality of information, lack of organisation and standardisation. Teaching and documentation are required |
| Skeoch10 | Commentary | Issues raised in handover of neonates from transport |
| Sexton11 | Audio-taping of nursing handovers | 84.6% of information discussed could be found elsewhere. Streamlining could improve quality and reduce time |
| Thakore12 | Questionnaires for those involved in handover of patients from ambulance to resuscitation | Identified a need for training to improve quality |
| Patterson13 | Observation study to identify strategies for handover in different industries | Different strategies used in different industries have different consequences for failure |
| Leonard14 | Commentary | There is a need to standardise communication in clinical practice |
| Bomba15 | Observation, questionnaire and interviews | Doctors' handover was unstructured, informal and error prone. Formalisation and computerisation would help |
| Nemeth16 | Observation and conversation analysis | Expertise depends on the ability to prioritise information; formal training in handover may benefit patients and clinicians |
| Coiera17 | Observation in emergency department | There is a need for training in communication. Interruptions disrupt memory processes. Most information exchanges are informal |
| Alvarez18 | Observation in intensive care unit | There is a high burden of interruptions on communications in the intensive care context |
| Berens19 | Review | Noise levels in the paediatric intensive care unit are sufficiently high to be of concern |
| Barenfanger20 | Interventional behavioural study in laboratory context | Introducing “readback” into communication procedures reduces errors |
| Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Healthcare21 | Review on system, organisational culture and individual factors influencing handover | There is a need for protocols and training in handover |
| Solet22 | Observational study of four different junior doctor handovers | Four major barriers to an effective hand-off were (1) physical setting, (2) social setting, (3) language barriers and (4) communication barriers. Precise, unambiguous, face-to-face communication is best. Standardisation and education are required |
| Hopkinson23 | Phenomenological study (semistructured interviews) | Handover is a forum for expressing opinions and feelings as well as patient information |
| Strange24 | Ethnographic observational study | Ritual of handover serves valuable psychological, social and protective functions |
| Odell25 | Review of communication theory applied to nursing shift handover | Handover should be constantly reviewed to maintain efficiency. Theory can help develop staff and the handover process |
| Anwari26 | Observation to develop a scale to assess quality of handover | Scale incorporated quality of verbal information, patient condition, professional behaviour and nurse's satisfaction with handover |
| McKenna27 | Description of process for change | Handover times were successfully reduced, allowing more efficient working |
| Kelly28 | Questionnaires+description of process for change | Changing handover location can be achieved by careful management |
| Watkins29 | Description of process for change | Changing handover location can be achieved by careful management |
| Williams30 | Description of process for change | Changing handover location can be achieved by careful management |
| Miller31 | Review article | Regular reviews, written guidelines and preprepared handover sheets help maintain efficiency |
| O'Connell32 | Observational study+semistructured interviews (five nursing acute care setting handovers) | No particular style was superior. Handover helps to debrief, clarify and educate |
| Kennedy33 | Observational study+interviews | Nursing care plans can replace oral handovers and are more efficient |
| Wallum34 | Description of process for change | Nursing care plans can replace oral handovers |
| Meißner35 | Questionnaire survey | Handover frequently causes irritation, often due to organisational problems |
| Borowitz36 | Prospective questionnaire survey | Important information is often missed |
| McCann37 | Questionnaire survey | Clinical problems were attributed to poor handover. Set location, standardised handover sheet and training were recommended |
| Ye38 | Observational study+questionnaire survey | Important information is often missed, leading to adverse effects. Standardisation, use of IT, feedback, quality assurance and education were suggested |
| Bhabra39 | Observational study | Printed handout sheets improved retention of information |
| Catchpole40 | Observational study | Introduction of handover protocol (based on motorsport/aviation) reduced technical errors, omissions and handover time |
| Fenton41 | Audit | Use of a handover guide may improve structure and information content |
| Ferran42 | Audit | Use of a proforma increased quantity of information transferred |
| Pothier43 | Observational study | Printed handout sheets improved retention of information |
| Wayne44 | Observational study, focus group discussion+various surveys | Simplification and standardisation of handoff instrument led to increased accuracy, completeness and reduced tasks transferred |
| Talbot45 | Observational study | Structuring verbal handover did not improve information retention by receiving staff |
| Singh46 | Study of closed malpractice claims | Handoff problems are associated with medical errors involving trainees |
| Wilson47 | Technical report | A clinical handover appliance can support safe handover |
| Hertzum48 | Questionnaire study, observational study+interviews | Use of an electronic patient record increased clarity about work tasks and reduced omissions at handover |
| Wong49 | Case study | End-users must be involved in the development of electronic support tools for handover |
| Chaboyer50 | Quality improvement project (location change, practice guideline and competency standard) | Quality improvement agenda for handover improves safety, efficiency, teamwork and senior support |
| Kassean51 | Description of process for change | Changing handover location can be achieved by careful management |
| Wilson52 | Review | Assessing feasibility of IT tools for improving handover |
| Bruce53 | Experience reporting, qualitative interviews | Difficult or “non-ideal” handovers characterised by complicated care situation |