ABSTRACT
Miscommunication among health care providers is the root cause of errors leading to injury
and death of patients. Consequently, handing over communication has become a primary focus
of international and national concern. Nurses handing over has been identified to be prone to
errors. The use of structured communication tools such as SBAR has been found to improve
communication among health care providers and promote a positive outcome on patient safety.
The purpose of this study is to observe the handing over practices, implement and assess the
use of nurses with the use of SBAR communication tool in Ghana. The study design adopted
an interventional sequential explanatory research design. Triangulation was applied in data
collection; pre-test and post-test questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data and
observation, semi-structured interviews and document analysis was used to collect qualitative
data. Both quantitative and qualitative findings showed that participants were satisfied with
handing over using the SBAR, because the SBAR tool is concise, accurate, quick, simple, wellstructured and an effective tool for communication. Majority of the nurses (74.5%)
recommended the use of SBAR in the hospital because the SBAR is easier to use, contains
detailed and vital information, enhances systemic assessment and is more helpful than the
existing method of handing over. Nurses expressed satisfaction with the way patients are
handed over with the SBAR than the existing method as nurses stated that, important
information is not skipped, the SBAR organize the handing over process, the SBAR
summarizes handing over information and any nurse can hand over with the SBAR. The study
recommended that, 37 Military Hospital should consider using the SBAR, Ghana Health
Service should revise patient safety policy to include structured communication and Nursing
and Midwifery Council (NMC) of Ghana should consider adding structured handing over in
nursing education.
CDR, C (2021). Improving Handing Over Practices Among Nurses Using A Structured Communication Tool (Sbar): A Study At 37 Military Hospital. Afribary.com: Retrieved April 14, 2021, from https://afribary.com/works/improving-handing-over-practices-among-nurses-using-a-structured-communication-tool-sbar-a-study-at-37-military-hospital
Coalition, CDR. "Improving Handing Over Practices Among Nurses Using A Structured Communication Tool (Sbar): A Study At 37 Military Hospital" Afribary.com. Afribary.com, 08 Apr. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/improving-handing-over-practices-among-nurses-using-a-structured-communication-tool-sbar-a-study-at-37-military-hospital . Accessed 14 Apr. 2021.
Coalition, CDR. "Improving Handing Over Practices Among Nurses Using A Structured Communication Tool (Sbar): A Study At 37 Military Hospital". Afribary.com, Afribary.com, 08 Apr. 2021. Web. 14 Apr. 2021. < https://afribary.com/works/improving-handing-over-practices-among-nurses-using-a-structured-communication-tool-sbar-a-study-at-37-military-hospital >.
Coalition, CDR. "Improving Handing Over Practices Among Nurses Using A Structured Communication Tool (Sbar): A Study At 37 Military Hospital" Afribary.com (2021). Accessed April 14, 2021. https://afribary.com/works/improving-handing-over-practices-among-nurses-using-a-structured-communication-tool-sbar-a-study-at-37-military-hospital