The effectiveness of bedside handover training to improve knowledge, attitudes, and skills among nurses

Abstract

Bedside handover is a strategy to improve communication accuracy during handovers so nurses can share information between them, involve patients in nursing care, and improve patient's environment safety. Bedside handovers have been carried out at Public Hospitals in Aceh Province, Indonesia but it has not been systematically and optimally implemented. Limited knowledge about bedside handover can reduce the quality of nursing care provided by nurses. The nurses’ knowledge limitation can be increased through training about bedside handover. This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of bedside handover training to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and skills among nurses. This study was a quasi-experimental study with one group pre- and post-test design. The convenience sampling method was used to collect data from 64 nurses working in a public hospital in the capital of Aceh Province. All participants were provided two-days training (three-hours a day) about bedside hand over. Program effectiveness was assessed one week before and after program training completion using a paper-based questionnaire and an observation list. Data were analysed using parametric statistical tests and paired t-test. Results of the study shows that there was a statistically significant increase of nurses’ knowledge (t = 3.77; p = 0,000), nurses’ attitudes (t = 8.29; p = 0,000), and nurses’ skills (t = 11.83; p = 0.000) following the program training completion. Bedside handover training is an effective strategy to increase the nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and skills. The training can be considered as an alternative strategy to improve bedside handover knowledge, attitudes, and skills among nurses in hospitals setting.