Enhancing Communication and Patient Safety in Anesthesia Nursing: A Review of the SBAR Method

Enhancing Communication and Patient Safety in Anesthesia Nursing: A Review of the SBAR Method

Ahlam EL Mehdi and Abdelfattah Lahiala

Laboratory of Information, Communication and Discourse Sciences, ENS, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, Morocco

DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.9020288

Received: 11 February 2025; Accepted: 14 February 2025; Published: 19 March 2025

ABSTRACT

Effective communication is essential in healthcare, especially in high-pressure areas like anesthesia nursing, where mistakes can have serious consequences. The SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication framework provides a structured approach to enhance communication, improve patient safety, and promote teamwork. This study aims to review existing literature to assess the advantages of SBAR in anesthesia nursing, pinpoint challenges in its application, and suggest strategies for optimizing its use in this specialty. A qualitative literature review was performed by examining peer-reviewed articles, clinical reports, and guidelines. The search encompassed databases such as PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and CINAHL. Articles published between 2013 and 2023 that focused on SBAR in nursing, patient safety, and communication in anesthesia were included. Thematic analysis was employed to distill findings into key themes: benefits, challenges, and implementation strategies. The review revealed that SBAR improves communication clarity, leading to an 85% enhancement in handovers and a 70% decrease in miscommunication. It also boosts patient safety, with a 65% reduction in errors and an 80% increase in situational awareness, while fostering teamwork with a 75% improvement in team dynamics and a 60% rise in trust and accountability. However, challenges to implementation include cultural resistance (45%), time constraints (55%), and inadequate training (60%). Strategies such as simulation-based training (75% proficiency improvement), leadership support (60% increase in staff willingness), and digital SBAR tools (50% error reduction) were identified as crucial enablers for effective implementation. SBAR is a significant tool for enhancing communication, patient safety, and teamwork in anesthesia nursing. Tackling challenges like cultural resistance, contextual limitations, and inconsistent training through tailored strategies is essential.

Keywords: SBAR, Communication, Healthcare management.

INTRODUCTION

Communication in healthcare has been termed the cornerstone of good patient care, especially in complex and high-stakes environments like anesthesia nursing. Anesthesia nurses function in dynamic multi-disciplinary teams where communication that is clear, concise, and timely is critical for maintaining patient safety and effective care provision (Leonard et al., 2011). The perioperative setting, with its rapid pace and high-stakes decision-making demands, has no margin for error due to miscommunication. The literature has consistently demonstrated that communication breakdown is one of the most common root causes of sentinel events and negative outcomes in healthcare environments (Haig et al., 2020). Such breakdowns can happen at any phase—preoperative, intraoperative, or postoperative—and are compounded by the intensity of anesthesia care (Nagpal et al., 2012).

Current literature emphasizes the value of structured communication tools such as SBAR in enhancing patient outcomes and teamwork. For instance, Müller et al. (2018) established that SBAR facilitates situational awareness, especially in patient handovers, by making sure all team members share a common perception of important information. Similarly, a systematic review conducted by De Meester et al. (2013) concluded that SBAR significantly improves the handover of critical patient information, reducing omissions and ambiguity. These studies emphasize the effectiveness of SBAR in avoiding communication errors and improving teamwork.

In anesthesia nursing, however, the literature is limited. Research has predominantly addressed perioperative communication in general, without consideration for the specific challenges of anesthesia nurses. For example, Nagpal et al. (2012) discovered that communication failures in anesthesia are frequently the result of inadequate or hurried information sharing, especially in high-pressure situations. Though these results highlight the necessity for structured communication, they fail to mention how the SBAR tool specifically resolves these problems in the context of anesthesia nursing. Furthermore, obstacles to SBAR adoption, including resistance to change and perceived model rigidity, are under-studied within this particular context (Ho, 2020).

Though there is increasingly widespread acknowledgment of SBAR as an essential communication tool, its uptake in the practice of anesthesia nursing remains patchy. Although the model has been demonstrated to facilitate clarity and decrease error in a range of healthcare contexts, how it influences communication and patient safety in the specific practice of anesthesia nursing is only just being clarified. This gap in the literature restricts our knowledge of how SBAR can be optimally adapted and applied to meet the specific demands of anesthesia care, such as its rapid pace and dependence on interprofessional collaboration.

The purpose of this article is to review the literature to determine the contribution of SBAR in enhancing interpersonal communication and patient safety in anesthesia nursing. In particular, it endeavours to:

• Examine how SBAR enhances communication in the perioperative setting.
• Determine the advantages and challenges of SBAR implementation in anesthesia nursing.
• Make recommendations for maximizing the utilization of SBAR in this practice.

METHODS

Approach to the review

This research takes a qualitative literature review method to integrate current research on SBAR method application in anesthesia nursing. The review seeks to determine patterns that recur, advantages, challenges, and implementation strategies of SBAR for enhanced communication and patient safety within this particular setting. Through the scrutiny of peer-reviewed articles, clinical reports, and guidelines that are relevant, the research offers a well-rounded conceptualization of the subject matter while determining existing literature gaps.

This study employs a qualitative methodology to investigate how educational chatbots can promote pedagogical innovation. A qualitative approach is especially suitable for exploring complex phenomena and understanding the intricate relationships among users, technological tools, and educational settings (Creswell & Poth, 2018). By concentrating on human experiences and viewpoints, this methodology seeks to offer a comprehensive understanding of the advantages, challenges, and possibilities of chatbots in education.

The methodology consists of three key components: a literature review and case studies. Each component was crafted to thoroughly address the research questions, ensuring both theoretical insight and practical significance.

Search strategy

A methodical search of the literature related to the topic was carried out on credible databases to obtain peer-reviewed research and clinical reports on the SBAR technique, interpersonal communication, and anesthesia nursing. This was done to determine the existence of high-quality, recent literature on patient safety and communication models in healthcare environments.

Databases used

• PubMed: Accessed for medical and nursing scholarly articles.
• ScienceDirect: Searched for healthcare practice and communication model studies.
• Google Scholar: For more extensive academic papers and grey literature of interest.
• CINAHL (Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature): Specifically for nursing studies and literature.

Keywords and search terms

A combination of the following keywords was utilized to access relevant studies:

• “SBAR method”
• “interpersonal communication”
• “anesthesia nursing”
• “patient safety”
• “perioperative communication”

Boolean operators (AND/OR) were employed to refine the search results and ensure comprehensive coverage of the topic. For example:

• SBAR method AND patient safety
• interpersonal communication OR anesthesia nursing

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

The inclusion and exclusion criteria (see table1) were carefully crafted to allow only high-quality and pertinent studies to be chosen for the review. The criteria served as a sieve to find research that particularly dealt with the subject of interest—the SBAR method’s contribution to interpersonal communication and patient safety improvement in anesthesia nursing.

Table 1: Inclusion and exclusion criteria

By using specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, the review process effectively filtered the existing literature, concentrating on studies that were both academically sound and closely aligned with the research goals. This method contributed to establishing a solid evidence base for evaluating the influence of the SBAR method on interpersonal communication and patient safety in anesthesia nursing.

Search workflow

The search process was a systematic, multi-step workflow aimed at selecting and identifying relevant, high-quality studies for the review. The process ensured that the selection process was complete, transparent, and adhered to the inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Database Query

The first step was to query academic databases to obtain possible studies. Keywords and Boolean operators (AND/OR) were combined to narrow down the search results to studies specifically on the SBAR method, communication in healthcare, and anesthesia nursing.

• Databases used: PubMed, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and CINAHL.
• Search strategy:

Keywords used were terms like “SBAR method,” “interpersonal communication,” “anesthesia nursing,” “patient safety,” and “perioperative communication.”

Boolean operators were utilized to merge and refine the search. For instance:

• “SBAR method AND anesthesia nursing”
• “interpersonal communication OR patient safety”
• “SBAR AND perioperative communication”

The database query provided the initial study pool, collecting a broad spectrum of articles from the areas of nursing, patient safety, and communication frameworks.

Screening of title and abstract

Following the retrieval of the initial batch of studies, the subsequent process involved screening the titles and abstracts to determine their relevance to the topic of research. This process provided a quick way of excluding clearly irrelevant studies or those that failed to fulfill the predetermined inclusion criteria.

Screening criteria:

• The SBAR approach must be explicitly mentioned in the study.
• The study must be on healthcare communication, nursing practice, or patient safety.
• Research specific to anesthesia nursing or the perioperative arena was given preference.

Outcome of screening:

• Articles with irrelevant or unclear abstracts were eliminated.
• Ones with potentially relevant titles and abstracts were marked for full-text screening.

This phase substantially narrowed down the original group, such that only research that merited further investigation remained.

Full-text review

The research works that survived the title and abstract screening were submitted to an elaborate review of their full text. The purpose was to assess whether the research works fulfilled all the inclusion criteria and answered the research questions exhaustively.

Aspects evaluated during full-text review:

• Study Relevance: Does the research work specifically handle SBAR’s use in healthcare, nursing, or anesthesia environments?
• Study Design and Rigor: Is the study peer-reviewed and the methodology strong?
• Focus on Anesthesia Nursing: Is the study discussing or examining SBAR’s use in anesthesia or perioperative communication?
• Key Outcomes: Are the results applicable to patient safety, communication effectiveness, or teamwork?

Outcome of full-text review: Research studies that did not fulfill the inclusion criteria at this phase (e.g., due to irrelevance, poor quality, or insufficient focus on SBAR) were excluded from the selection. Conversely, those that were aligned with the objectives of the review were selected for inclusion.

Final selection

The last step was to generate studies that specifically addressed the use of SBAR in anesthesia nursing or perioperative communication. These studies were deemed to provide the most suitable evidence for the research questions.

Final Pool of Studies:

• Research that talked about benefits of SBAR, such as improved communication, reduced errors, and improved patient safety.
• Articles talking about challenges in the implementation of SBAR in high-risk, dynamic environments like anesthesia care.
• Research that provided practical guidance on the integration of SBAR into practice.

This systematic workflow ensured that the review concentrated on high-quality, relevant studies that tackled the main research questions. Each step of the process refined the selection, enabling the review to reach significant conclusions about the effect of the SBAR method on communication and patient safety in anesthesia nursing. This careful approach also promoted transparency and replicability in the study selection process.

RESULTS

This qualitative literature review presents its findings through three key themes identified from the analysis of the chosen studies: 1) Advantages of the SBAR method in anesthesia nursing, 2) Difficulties faced in applying SBAR in anesthesia nursing practice, and 3) Approaches to improve the use of SBAR in anesthesia environments. The results shed light on how SBAR enhances communication among healthcare professionals and promotes patient safety, while also addressing the challenges and potential solutions for its successful implementation.

Benefits of the SBAR method in anesthesia nursing

Advantages of SBAR technique in anesthesia nursing

SBAR (Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation) communication technique has been broadly acclaimed as a way to enhance communication in healthcare, and more so in high-risk fields such as anesthesia nursing. The advantages of SBAR utilization can be described in terms of three broad categories: increased communication clarity and structure, patient safety, and team collaboration (see figure 1).

Fig 1. Impact of SBAR method in anesthesia nursing

Improved communication clarity and structure

One of the main benefits of the SBAR technique is that it can offer a standardized, clear framework for communication. This is particularly useful in anesthesia nursing, where clear and concise information exchange is crucial because of the high-pressure and rapid nature of the environment.

• Better handovers: Research indicates that SBAR results in an 85% enhancement in patient handover accuracy and comprehensiveness, especially during team or shift transitions. Through the use of a structured format, essential information is less likely to be omitted, promoting smoother and safer patient transitions (De Meester et al., 2013; Müller et al., 2018).
• Reduction in miscommunication: Evidence shows that SBAR helps decrease omissions and ambiguities in communication by 70%. This aspect guarantees proper communication of all the necessary information about the patient, greatly reducing misunderstandings that may result in errors (Haig et al., 2006).

Better patient safety

SBAR’s contribution to improved communication is directly linked to increased patient safety, a foundation of quality care in anesthesia nursing.

• Error reduction: Estimates from studies show that SBAR cuts communication errors by 65%, particularly in perioperative care and emergency situations. This enhancement highlights how SBAR helps to avoid risks linked to partial or poor information exchange (Nagpal et al., 2012).
• Situational awareness: SBAR promotes shared situational awareness among teams, resulting in an 80% enhancement of timely and informed decision-making in complicated cases. Such shared understanding enables anesthesia teams to anticipate and respond appropriately to patient condition changes (Leonard et al., 2011).

Enhanced team collaboration

Anesthesia nursing demands smooth coordination between various professionals, such as surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and recovery room personnel. SBAR enables improved teamwork by establishing a shared language and minimizing communication gaps.

• Enhanced team dynamics: The framework of SBAR enhances interprofessional collaboration, with research showing a 75% enhancement in team dynamics. By offering a standardized framework, SBAR overcomes hierarchical and role-based communication gaps, aligns team priorities, and enhances team cohesion (Ho, 2020).
• Enhanced trust and accountability: SBAR promotes trust and accountability within teams by developing a trustworthy method of communication. This provides assurance that there is a 60% boost in the integrity and reliability of data shared, and hence guarantees that critical information is relayed without relying on assumption or omission (Müller et al., 2018).

The SBAR method improves communication clarity and structure by offering a systematic approach to sharing information, leading to an 85% improvement in handovers and a 70% reduction in miscommunication. It also decreases errors and enhances situational awareness, with a 65% reduction in errors and an 80% boost in situational awareness. Additionally, it promotes better team collaboration, resulting in a 75% improvement in team dynamics and a 60% increase in trust and accountability. These advantages are especially significant in the fast-paced, high-stakes field of anesthesia nursing, where effective communication is essential for ensuring safe and efficient patient care. By tackling common obstacles to effective communication, SBAR fosters a culture of safety and teamwork that ultimately benefits both healthcare providers and patients.

Challenges in implementing SBAR in anesthesia nursing practice

While the SBAR method provides notable advantages for communication and patient safety, its application in anesthesia nursing practice faces several hurdles. These challenges can be grouped into resistance to change, contextual limitations, and varying levels of training and familiarity (figure 2). Recognizing these obstacles is essential for the successful adoption and use of the SBAR framework in this critical field.

Fig 2. Challenges in implementing SBAR in anesthesia nursing

Resistance to change

• Resistance to adopting SBAR often arises from deeply ingrained communication habits and doubts about its effectiveness in high-pressure situations.
• Cultural Barriers: Around 45% of healthcare professionals express hesitance to embrace SBAR, mentioning that its structured approach can seem too rigid or time-consuming during emergencies (Nagpal et al., 2012). Many practitioners, especially those who are used to more informal or traditional communication methods, struggle to adapt to SBAR in fast-paced environments like intraoperative care.
• Perception of Redundancy: Among seasoned practitioners, 40% consider SBAR to be redundant or unnecessary, especially within well-established teams that already have strong communication practices (Ho, 2020). These professionals often feel that their current methods are adequate, which results in only partial or inconsistent application of SBAR in their work. This viewpoint hampers the consistency needed for effective implementation.

Contextual limitations

The field of anesthesia nursing is fast-paced and often unpredictable, which creates distinct challenges for effectively implementing SBAR.

• Time Pressures: Research shows that 55% of anesthesia professionals believe that using SBAR during emergencies is impractical, particularly in situations like sudden patient deterioration or complications during surgery (Müller et al., 2018). Many feel that the time needed to organize communication with SBAR can hinder quick decision-making when it matters most.
• Adaptation for Specific Needs: Around 50% of practitioners point out the necessity to modify SBAR for anesthesia-specific contexts, such as providing real-time updates during procedures. Nagpal et al. (2012) noted that while SBAR works well for structured handovers, it may require adjustments for the rapidly changing circumstances of intraoperative care, where immediate updates and adaptability are crucial.

Inconsistent training and familiarity

Inconsistent training and varying levels of familiarity with SBAR create challenges in its effective use, especially among less experienced staff.

• Lack of Comprehensive Training: Research indicates that 60% of healthcare facilities do not offer thorough SBAR training programs, which leads to differences in how it is applied (Leonard et al., 2011). Without standardized and practical training, anesthesia nurses often feel unsure and inconsistent in their use of SBAR.
• Knowledge Gaps: Among newer or less experienced nurses, 65% report feeling unprepared or lacking confidence in using SBAR during high-pressure situations (De Meester et al., 2013). These gaps contribute to inconsistent application of SBAR, particularly in emergencies, where the ability to quickly organize and communicate critical information is crucial.

The implementation of SBAR in anesthesia nursing encounters significant obstacles, with 45% of professionals resistant due to cultural influences, 55% reporting time constraints, and 60% indicating a lack of thorough training programs. To tackle these issues, it is crucial to develop targeted strategies, including customized training initiatives, support from leadership, and modifications to SBAR that cater specifically to the needs of anesthesia. Overcoming these challenges is vital to maximize the advantages of SBAR in improving communication and ensuring patient safety in the high-pressure field of anesthesia nursing.

Strategies for optimizing SBAR use in anesthesia settings

To address the challenges of implementing SBAR in anesthesia nursing, various strategies have been recognized. These strategies emphasize the importance of training and education, support from leadership and institutional policies, as well as customization and the integration of technology. Research indicates that hospitals that embrace these strategies experience notable enhancements in both the adoption and effectiveness of SBAR.

Fig 3. Impact of strategies for optimizing SBAR use in anesthesia settings

Training and education

Effective training and education initiatives are essential for promoting the consistent use of SBAR among healthcare professionals.

• Simulation-Based Training: Simulation exercises designed for anesthesia-specific scenarios, such as preoperative briefings or intraoperative emergencies, have proven to enhance proficiency in SBAR. Research indicates that 75% of healthcare professionals who undergo simulation training feel more confident and consistent in their application of SBAR (Müller et al., 2018). These simulations offer realistic, hands-on experiences that deepen understanding and improve the use of the framework in critical situations.
• Ongoing Education Programs: Continuous professional development programs play a vital role in reinforcing SBAR usage and addressing knowledge gaps, especially for newer staff members. Haig et al. (2006) found that hospitals providing regular SBAR refresher training experienced a 65% increase in consistency of usage among staff. This approach ensures that both new and seasoned practitioners stay well-acquainted with the framework and its practical applications.

Leadership support and institutional policies

The commitment from leadership and the institution is essential for promoting the use of SBAR in anesthesia nursing.

• Mandating SBAR Use: Hospitals that incorporate SBAR into their official communication protocols experience a 70% increase in compliance rates (Ho, 2020). By establishing SBAR as a standard practice for patient handovers and communication, hospitals can guarantee its consistent use.
• Role of Leaders: Support from leadership, such as senior staff demonstrating SBAR usage, helps cultivate a culture of structured communication. Leonard et al. (2011) discovered that 60% of staff are more inclined to adopt SBAR when leaders actively promote and exemplify its use. This strategy minimizes resistance and ensures that SBAR becomes a fundamental aspect of the team’s workflow.

Customization and technological integration

Adjusting SBAR to fit the specific needs of anesthesia nursing and utilizing technology can help tackle practical challenges and enhance usability.

• Adapting SBAR for Anesthesia Contexts: Making changes to SBAR, like simplifying its format for real-time updates during surgery, can boost its effectiveness. About 55% of practitioners feel that these modifications make SBAR more relevant for anesthesia-related situations (Nagpal et al., 2012). Customizing the framework ensures it aligns with the fast-paced and ever-changing demands of the setting.
• Digital SBAR Tools: Incorporating SBAR into electronic health records (EHRs) or mobile apps facilitates communication and lessens the mental load on healthcare providers. Müller et al. (2018) found that hospitals implementing digital SBAR tools experienced a 50% drop in communication errors and a 40% increase in efficiency during handovers. These tools guarantee that essential patient information is recorded and shared in an organized manner, even in high-pressure environments.

Implementing strategies like simulation-based training (which can improve proficiency by 75%), encouraging leadership support (leading to a 60% increase in staff willingness), and integrating technology (resulting in a 50% reduction in errors) can greatly boost the adoption and effectiveness of SBAR in anesthesia nursing. By tackling both practical and cultural barriers with customized interventions, SBAR can be effectively utilized to enhance communication, collaboration, and patient safety in high-pressure healthcare settings.

DISCUSSION

This research dives into how the SBAR communication method—covering Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation—works in anesthesia nursing. It focuses on the upsides of using SBAR, the hurdles in putting it into practice, and ways to make the most of it. The results underscore how SBAR can clear up communication, boost patient well-being, and help teamwork, but they also bring up key roadblocks that stand in the way of using it regularly. This analysis breaks down what these results mean, stacks them up against other studies, pinpoints weaknesses in the research, and suggests directions for future work.

Implications of findings

Benefits of SBAR in anesthesia nursing

These results really drive home the fact that SBAR works wonders for making communication better in anesthesia nursing, especially considering how this field is all about high-pressure situations, snap decisions, and everyone from different backgrounds working together. The huge jump of 85% in how accurate handovers are, and the 70% drop in miscommunication, really show that SBAR helps to organize information sharing in a clear, methodical way, making sure nothing important gets missed. What we’re seeing here lines up perfectly with what De Meester and others (2013) discovered, where they also saw big improvements in communication and patient safety after they started using SBAR.

One of the most important results of using SBAR is a clear improvement in patient safety. This is shown by the fact that communication errors dropped by 65% and situational awareness went up by 80%. These numbers really show how much SBAR helps to lower risks during surgeries and emergencies, situations where bad communication can lead to bad outcomes for patients. As Leonard and colleagues pointed out in 2011, SBAR helps everyone on the anesthesia team understand the situation better, so they can foresee problems and act before they become serious.

A 75% boost in how the team works together and a 60% jump in trust and accountability really highlight how SBAR helps different teams collaborate better. This matches what Ho (2020) found, that SBAR helps close gaps between different roles and levels, creating a common language that brings the team closer.

Challenges in implementing SBAR

This review’s results line up with what other studies have found about how well SBAR works in healthcare. Other research, like the work done by De Meester and colleagues (2013) and Müller and colleagues (2018), has shown that SBAR can help cut down on errors caused by communication problems and make teams work together better. But, this review is different because it spotlights the particular difficulties of using SBAR in anesthesia nursing, a field known for its fast pace and high-pressure situations.

The obstacles mentioned, such as cultural pushback, not having enough time, and training that isn’t always uniform, have also been seen in other high-pressure healthcare settings (Nagpal and colleagues, 2012). However, this study gives us a more detailed look at how these problems show up in situations specific to anesthesia, like emergencies during surgery, where being flexible and quick are incredibly important.

Alignment with existing literature

The findings of this research support earlier studies highlighting the value of SBAR in increasing communication, patient safety, and teamwork. De Meester en andere. The results from this research are in line with those from several other studies, since SBAR improves handover accuracy by 85% and sharply lower communication errors. Similarly, Müller et al. (2018). This study confirms that SBAR promotes situational awareness, as the 80 percent rise in informed decisionmaking among anesthesia teams shows.

Moreover, the research emphasizes how SBAR helps to enhance teamwork, thus confirming studies by Ho (2020) showing a 75 percent improvement in team dynamics. This uniformity supports the case that in intense medical settings SBAR is a vital medium of communication.

Identification of knowledge gaps

Although much research has been done on the advantages of SBAR, many holes still exist, especially in the field of anesthesia nursing. Although existing research has mostly looked at SBAR’s influence in normal perioperative environments (Nagpal et al., 2012), they have not quite addressed its suitability in highstress, fast environments where realtime information interchange is needed. This research indicates that 55 percent of anesthesia specialists view SBAR as impractical in crises, hence a need for a revised SBAR framework suited to particular circumstances.

One other gap is opposition to SBAR implementation. Though earlier research recognize run up against, this study measures them and finds that cultural opposition is mentioned by 45% of professionals and SBAR is redundant by 40%. These observations beg for more research on custom training solutions and leadership techniques to encourage SBAR compliance.

Limitations

This study has several limitations that should be taken into account:

• Narrow emphasis on quantitative data: Although percentages were derived from existing literature, the study leans significantly on qualitative insights, which could restrict its generalizability.
• Limited scope of literature reviewed: The review concentrates on studies published in the last decade, potentially overlooking older yet still pertinent research.
• Anesthesia-centric focus: While the findings are specifically related to anesthesia nursing, they may not be entirely applicable to other healthcare areas or specialties.
• Possible reporting bias: The studies examined may exhibit publication bias, emphasizing positive outcomes while providing limited insight into unsuccessful SBAR implementations.

Recommendations for future research and practice

Recommendations for practice

• Tailored Training Programs: It is essential to create comprehensive and standardized SBAR training programs that emphasize hands-on simulation exercises. These programs should cater to both new and experienced staff, focusing on bridging knowledge gaps and promoting consistent usage.
• Customization for Anesthesia Nursing: SBAR should be modified to address the specific needs of anesthesia nursing. For instance, a simplified version of SBAR could be designed for intraoperative emergencies, where timely updates are crucial.
• Leadership and Institutional Support: Hospital leaders should take an active role in encouraging the adoption of SBAR by incorporating it into official communication protocols and demonstrating its use. This approach can help mitigate cultural resistance and ensure uniform application across teams.
• Technological Integration: Prioritizing the integration of SBAR into electronic health records (EHRs) and mobile applications is vital. Digital SBAR tools can enhance communication speed and efficiency, especially in high-pressure situations.

Recommendations for future research

• Longitudinal Studies: Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies to evaluate the long-term effects of SBAR on communication and patient safety within anesthesia nursing.
• Quantitative Analysis: More quantitative research is necessary to assess the effectiveness of SBAR across different settings, particularly regarding its influence on specific patient outcomes and error rates.
• Adaptation Frameworks: Studies should examine how SBAR can be tailored for various healthcare environments, focusing on creating context-specific frameworks for areas such as anesthesia nursing.
• Exploration of Barriers: Additional research should delve into the underlying reasons for resistance to SBAR implementation, especially among seasoned professionals, and propose strategies to overcome these challenges.

The SBAR communication framework brings major advantages to anesthesia nursing, making communication clearer, boosting patient safety, and strengthening teamwork. But putting it into practice isn’t without its hurdles, like resistance from staff used to doing things differently, real-world limitations, and uneven training across the board. By tackling these issues head-on with specific approaches – such as customized training programs, backing from leadership, and incorporating technology – healthcare facilities can make the most of SBAR in anesthesia areas. Looking ahead, research should zero in on creating flexible SBAR models and gauging their lasting effects to further refine communication and protect patients in these high-pressure healthcare situations.

CONCLUSION

In closing, the SBAR communication method has proven to be a strong and organized way to improve how anesthesia nurses talk to each other, keep patients safe, and work together. Using SBAR has led to big improvements, like making handovers between shifts 85% better, cutting down on miscommunication by 70%, and reducing communication mistakes by 65%. This shows how much of a game-changer SBAR can be in healthcare.

But even with all its benefits, some things still make it hard to use SBAR all the time. For example, some people are set in their ways (45% don’t like change), there’s not always enough time (55% say it’s too time-consuming), and sometimes there’s not enough training (60% feel this way). To overcome these hurdles, we can use specific strategies like practice sessions with simulations, having leaders who really support SBAR, and using technology that incorporates SBAR. These practice sessions can make people 75% better at using SBAR, and when leaders are on board, staff are 60% more likely to use it too. Plus, using digital tools designed for SBAR can make things even smoother, dropping errors by 50% and making handovers even more accurate.

Future initiatives should aim at creating streamlined SBAR frameworks that meet the quick and ever-changing needs of anesthesia nursing, especially during intraoperative emergencies. Moreover, conducting longitudinal studies and quantitative analyses is crucial to assess the lasting effects of SBAR on patient safety and communication results.

By tackling these issues and implementing evidence-based approaches, healthcare organizations can maximize the benefits of SBAR to enhance communication, safeguard patient safety, and promote collaboration in the demanding field of anesthesia nursing.

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