Nurses' Handover Satisfaction: Development and Validation of the Handover Quality Questionnaire

Abstract

Background: The handover process is a critical component of patient safety, enabling effective communication and the transfer of responsibility among nurses. However, despite their critical role, it is often compromised by interruptions, lack of standardization, and variability in practice, which may reduce quality and nurse satisfaction. Existing tools primarily measure information transfer and efficiency but rarely incorporate nurses' perspectives on safety and satisfaction. This gap underscores the need for a validated instrument that comprehensively assesses handover quality from both a professional and safety perspective. Objectives: To develop and validate the Handover Quality Questionnaire (HAND-Q), a tool assessing nurses' satisfaction with handovers and their perceived impact on patient safety. Methods: HAND-Q development included a conceptualization phase (literature review, expert discussions) and a validation phase (pilot and large-scale testing). Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses (EFA, CFA) assessed psychometric properties. Results: EFA revealed four factors: Satisfaction, Patient Safety, Care Pathway Safety, and Handover Content. CFA confirmed good model fit. Inter-factor correlations showed strong links between handover quality and safety, alongside discrepancies between satisfaction and objective standards. Linking Evidence to Practice: The HAND-Q offers a practical tool to assess handover quality, support standardization, enhance patient safety, and inform training and digital solutions.