TY - JOUR
T1 - Going the extra mile - cross-border patient handover in a European border region
T2 - qualitative study of healthcare professionals' perspectives
AU - Beuken, Juliette A.
AU - Verstegen, Danielle M. L.
AU - Dolmans, Diana H. J. M.
AU - Van Kersbergen, Laura
AU - Losfeld, Xavier
AU - Sopka, Sasa
AU - Vogt, Lina
AU - Bouwmans, Mara E. J.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2020.
PY - 2020/12
Y1 - 2020/12
N2 - BackgroundCross-border healthcare is complex, increasingly frequent and causes potential risks for patient safety. In this context, cross-border handovers or the transfer of patients from one country to another deserves particular attention. Although general handover has been the topic of extensive research, little is known about the challenges of handover across national borders, especially as perceived by stakeholders. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into healthcare professionals' perspectives on cross-border handover and ways to support this.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics and administrative staff) in a European border region to investigate their perspectives on cross-border handover. The interviews were aimed to investigate settings of acute and planned handover. Informed by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), interviews focused on participant perspectives. We summarised all interviews and inductively identified healthcare professionals' perspectives. We used elements of the TPB as sensitising concepts.ResultsForty-three healthcare professionals participated. Although respondents had neutral to positive attitudes, they often did not know very well what was expected of them or what influence they could have on improving cross-border handover. Challenges covered five themes: information transfer, language barriers, task division and education, policy and financial structures and cultural differences. To overcome these challenges, we proposed strategies such as providing tools and protocols, discussing and formalising collaboration, and organising opportunities to meet and get to know each other.ConclusionHealthcare professionals involved in cross-border handovers face specific challenges. It is necessary to take measures to come to a shared understanding while paying special attention to the above-mentioned challenges. Meeting in person around meaningful activities (eg, training and case discussions) can facilitate sharing ideas and community building.
AB - BackgroundCross-border healthcare is complex, increasingly frequent and causes potential risks for patient safety. In this context, cross-border handovers or the transfer of patients from one country to another deserves particular attention. Although general handover has been the topic of extensive research, little is known about the challenges of handover across national borders, especially as perceived by stakeholders. In this study, we aimed to gain insight into healthcare professionals' perspectives on cross-border handover and ways to support this.MethodsWe conducted semistructured interviews with healthcare professionals (physicians, nurses, paramedics and administrative staff) in a European border region to investigate their perspectives on cross-border handover. The interviews were aimed to investigate settings of acute and planned handover. Informed by the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), interviews focused on participant perspectives. We summarised all interviews and inductively identified healthcare professionals' perspectives. We used elements of the TPB as sensitising concepts.ResultsForty-three healthcare professionals participated. Although respondents had neutral to positive attitudes, they often did not know very well what was expected of them or what influence they could have on improving cross-border handover. Challenges covered five themes: information transfer, language barriers, task division and education, policy and financial structures and cultural differences. To overcome these challenges, we proposed strategies such as providing tools and protocols, discussing and formalising collaboration, and organising opportunities to meet and get to know each other.ConclusionHealthcare professionals involved in cross-border handovers face specific challenges. It is necessary to take measures to come to a shared understanding while paying special attention to the above-mentioned challenges. Meeting in person around meaningful activities (eg, training and case discussions) can facilitate sharing ideas and community building.
KW - patient safety
KW - qualitative research
KW - teamwork
KW - communication
KW - hand-off
KW - SAFETY
U2 - 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010509
DO - 10.1136/bmjqs-2019-010509
M3 - Article
C2 - 32132145
SN - 2044-5415
VL - 29
SP - 980
EP - 987
JO - BMJ Quality & Safety
JF - BMJ Quality & Safety
IS - 12
ER -