Abstract:
Background: Effective clinical handover is crucial for ensuring safe and seamless patient care
during nursing shift transitions. Previous studies have shown deficiencies in the clinical handover
process.
Objective: To describe perceptions, practices and barriers to effective clinical handover among
nurses in a selected teaching hospital
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among a convenience sample of 256
nurses in Colombo South Teaching Hospital during May-June 2023. A pre-tested, self
administered questionnaire was used to collect data and overall mean perception score was
considered as the cut-off for levels of perception. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were
used to analyse data using the SPSS version 26.0.
Results: The majority of the participants were female (96.5%, n=247), and 72.3% (n=185) were in
20-35 years age group. The majority (64.5%, n=165) had positive perceptions related to clinical
handover process particularly in the areas of; the way of delivering information (97.7%, n=250),
having opportunity to ask questions (91%, n=233) and the availability of records to clarify
information (93.4%, n=239). Majority (77.7%, n=199) reported handing over patients always at
the end of each shift, provide information verbally (90.2%, n=231) and bedside handover (74.2%,
n=190) were commonly practiced. Patient and family involvement in handover was not widely
reported. The main barriers identified included; workload (88.7%, n=227), lack of guidelines
(77%, n=197), punctuality (27%, n=69) and interest among fellow nurses (17.6%, n=45). Level of
perception of clinical handover is significantly associated with highest education level (p=0.014),
experience in current workplace (p=0.042) and previous training on clinical handover (p=0.006).
Conclusions: Nurses had positive perceptions regarding clinical handover, and they generally
practice end of shift handover at bedside using verbal communication. However, several barriers
were evident. The study highlights the need for standardized guidelines, training programs, and
improved information systems to enhance clinical handover practices of nurses.
