SBAR Research
Resuscitation 84 (2013) 1192–1196
Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect
Resuscitation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/resuscitation
Clinical paper
SBAR improves nurse–physician communication and reduces unexpected death:
A pre and post intervention studyଝ
K. De Meester a,b,∗ , M. Verspuy b , K.G. Monsieurs a,c , P. Van Bogaert a,b a b c Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Article history:
Received 20 December 2012
Received in revised form 8 March 2013
Accepted 17 March 2013
Keywords:
Rapid response system
Inter-professional communication
SBAR
Un-expected death
Serious adverse event
Unplanned intensive care unit admission
a b s t r a c t
Background: The Joint Commission International Patient Safety Goal 2 states that effective communication between health care workers needs to improve. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SBAR
(situation, background, assessment, recommendation) on the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE’s) in hospital wards.
Method: In 16 hospital wards nurses were trained to use SBAR to communicate with physicians in cases of deteriorating patients. A pre (July 2010 and April 2011) and post (June 2011 and March 2012) intervention study was performed. Patient records were checked for SBAR items up to 48 h before a SAE. A questionnaire was used to measure nurse–physician communication and collaboration.
Results: During 37,239 admissions 207 SAE’s occurred and were checked for SBAR items, 425 nurses were questioned. Post intervention all four SBAR elements were notated more frequently in patient records in case of a SAE (from 4% to 35%; p <
Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect
Resuscitation journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/resuscitation
Clinical paper
SBAR improves nurse–physician communication and reduces unexpected death:
A pre and post intervention studyଝ
K. De Meester a,b,∗ , M. Verspuy b , K.G. Monsieurs a,c , P. Van Bogaert a,b a b c Antwerp University Hospital, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650 Edegem, Belgium
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Division of Nursing and Midwifery Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
a r t i c l e
i n f o
Article history:
Received 20 December 2012
Received in revised form 8 March 2013
Accepted 17 March 2013
Keywords:
Rapid response system
Inter-professional communication
SBAR
Un-expected death
Serious adverse event
Unplanned intensive care unit admission
a b s t r a c t
Background: The Joint Commission International Patient Safety Goal 2 states that effective communication between health care workers needs to improve. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of SBAR
(situation, background, assessment, recommendation) on the incidence of serious adverse events (SAE’s) in hospital wards.
Method: In 16 hospital wards nurses were trained to use SBAR to communicate with physicians in cases of deteriorating patients. A pre (July 2010 and April 2011) and post (June 2011 and March 2012) intervention study was performed. Patient records were checked for SBAR items up to 48 h before a SAE. A questionnaire was used to measure nurse–physician communication and collaboration.
Results: During 37,239 admissions 207 SAE’s occurred and were checked for SBAR items, 425 nurses were questioned. Post intervention all four SBAR elements were notated more frequently in patient records in case of a SAE (from 4% to 35%; p <