Development of a Nursing Handover System Applying the SBAR Model in an Inpatient Ward, Samchai Hospital, Kalasin Province

Abstract

             This study aimed to examine the current situation, problems, and barriers related to nursing handover, to develop a nursing handover system applying the SBAR model suitable for the inpatient ward at Samchai Hospital, Kalasin Province, and to evaluate the outcomes of the developed system. The study employed a research-and-development design combined with a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest approach. The participants were 9 registered nurses working in the inpatient ward, representing the total target population of the unit.  Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide, a handover quality observation form, time recording forms, risk incident record forms, and a satisfaction questionnaire. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and the Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

            The results showed that before implementation, nursing handover lacked a standardized format, and the overall handover quality score averaged 17.11 points (S.D. = 4.40) out of 40. After implementation, the overall handover quality score significantly increased to 36.44 points (S.D. = 3.21) (Z = -2.666, p = .008). Accuracy increased from 7.67 to 13.33 points (p = .007), completeness increased from 5.44 to 12.22 points (p = .007), and systematic process increased from 4.00 to 10.89 points (p = .008). The average handover duration significantly decreased from 27.67 minutes to 19.00 minutes (Z = -2.547, p = .011). No handover-related risk incidents were found after implementation. Nurses’ overall satisfaction with the developed system was at the highest level (Mean = 4.66, S.D. = 0.32). These findings indicate that the nursing handover system applying the SBAR model, developed based on actual problems within the unit, can improve handover quality, reduce handover duration, and enhance patient safety in a concrete manner