Staff perceptions of best practice for information transfer about multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department: a focus group study

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Author(s)
Calleja, Pauline
Aitken, Leanne
Cooke, Marie
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2016
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Show full item recordAbstract
Aims and Objectives:
To understand: (1) staff perceptions of best practice for information transfer for multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department; (2) what information should be conveyed at transfer and (3) how information is transferred.
Background:
Information transfer for multitrauma patients is an integral factor for continuity of care, safety, quality assurance and patient outcomes; however, this has not been the focus of previous studies.
Design:
This was a qualitative study using focus group interviews.
Methods:
Data were collected during focus group interviews across five clinical areas. ...
View more >Aims and Objectives: To understand: (1) staff perceptions of best practice for information transfer for multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department; (2) what information should be conveyed at transfer and (3) how information is transferred. Background: Information transfer for multitrauma patients is an integral factor for continuity of care, safety, quality assurance and patient outcomes; however, this has not been the focus of previous studies. Design: This was a qualitative study using focus group interviews. Methods: Data were collected during focus group interviews across five clinical areas. Themes were derived from the data with consensus from three data coders. Purposive sampling was used and included staff caring for trauma patients during patient transition out of the emergency department. Participants were representatives of the emergency department, perioperative care, intensive care unit, high dependency care unit and the trauma service unit. Twenty-six registered nurses and two medical officers participated. Results: Five focus group interviews were held. Themes emerged from the data including ‘Variability’, ‘Continuity’ and ‘Putting the pieces together’. The first three themes were all influenced by the fourth theme of ‘Values/Context’. Considered together these themes influenced staff perception of the quality of information transfer for multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department. Conclusions: Staff perceived best practice for information transfer to be clear, concise, relevant documentation that travelled with the patient and interactive communication at handover that adhered to agreed principles and a minimum data set specific to trauma patients.
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View more >Aims and Objectives: To understand: (1) staff perceptions of best practice for information transfer for multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department; (2) what information should be conveyed at transfer and (3) how information is transferred. Background: Information transfer for multitrauma patients is an integral factor for continuity of care, safety, quality assurance and patient outcomes; however, this has not been the focus of previous studies. Design: This was a qualitative study using focus group interviews. Methods: Data were collected during focus group interviews across five clinical areas. Themes were derived from the data with consensus from three data coders. Purposive sampling was used and included staff caring for trauma patients during patient transition out of the emergency department. Participants were representatives of the emergency department, perioperative care, intensive care unit, high dependency care unit and the trauma service unit. Twenty-six registered nurses and two medical officers participated. Results: Five focus group interviews were held. Themes emerged from the data including ‘Variability’, ‘Continuity’ and ‘Putting the pieces together’. The first three themes were all influenced by the fourth theme of ‘Values/Context’. Considered together these themes influenced staff perception of the quality of information transfer for multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department. Conclusions: Staff perceived best practice for information transfer to be clear, concise, relevant documentation that travelled with the patient and interactive communication at handover that adhered to agreed principles and a minimum data set specific to trauma patients.
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Journal Title
Journal of Clinical Nursing
Volume
25
Copyright Statement
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Staff perceptions of best practice for information transfer about multitrauma patients on discharge from the emergency department: a focus group study, Journal of Clinical Nursing, Volume 25, Issue 19-20, October 2016, Pages 2863–2873, which has been published in final form at 10.1111/jocn.13334. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving (http://olabout.wiley.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-828039.html)
Subject
Nursing
Nursing not elsewhere classified
Health services and systems
Public health
Psychology