• Caroline Blyth, Nerolie Bost, and Sue Shiels.
• Medical Education Unit, Logan Hospital, Meadowbrook, Queensland, Australia.
• Emerg Med Australas. 2017 Jun 1; 29 (3): 336-341.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of a medical education session on the implementation of a new change of shift medical clinical handover format in an urban hospital ED.MethodsThis pilot study used a pre- and post-intervention design. The intervention consisted of a 1 h education session to teach a new handover format, SBARM (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation, Medication). Data were collected through observations of doctors performing clinical handover and individual interviews with participants.ResultsThe educational intervention led to an increased focus on checking medication charts, but had minimal effect on changing other aspects of clinical handover at doctors' change of shift times. Perceived increased time spent on handover using the new system was seen as a major barrier to the implementation of SBARM. The addition of 'M' to 'SBAR' heightened awareness of checking medication and fluid charts.ConclusionTime pressures need to be taken into consideration when introducing changes to current processes. Also, it is recommended that, in addition to ongoing education, senior clinicians are engaged during the planning and execution stages of changes to practice.© 2016 Australasian College for Emergency Medicine and Australasian Society for Emergency Medicine.

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