Date Available
4-14-2022
Year of Publication
2022
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice
Committee Chair
Dr. Debra Hampton
Clinical Mentor
Dr. Julie Hudson
Committee Member
Dr. Karen Butler
Abstract
Background: Communication is essential for safe and effective patient care. In the perioperative setting, information sharing is critical to care coordination. Lack of communication between caregivers can lead to medical errors. Evidence shows that huddles lead to increased communication, satisfaction, and engagement between team members resulting in better patient outcomes. Huddles are short, less than 10-minute gatherings that focus on the daily schedule, identify potential obstacles, explain unique needs, and discuss preceding day issues.
Objectives: This project aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of huddles on employee satisfaction, engagement, and communication of healthcare workers while also determining if huddles were seen as valuable in the perioperative setting.
Methods: This Quasi-Experimental, pretest-posttest design study was conducted at an academic medical center in the midwestern part of the United States. Huddles were done twice a week. Healthcare worker satisfaction, engagement, and communication practices were measured utilizing the Communication Assessment Questionnaire (CAQ), the Work and Well-being Survey (UWES-17), and some open-ended descriptive questions.
Results: A total of 61 participants completed the pre-survey, and 24 completed the post-survey. The UWES-17, CAQ, and employee satisfaction subscale scores all increased post-implementation. Clarity of messages, a CAQ domain, was the only variable noted to be statistically significant. Study participants acknowledged the value of huddles in the perioperative services department.
Conclusion: Employee satisfaction and engagement increased post-huddle implementation, although not to a significant amount. Communication effectiveness improved post-implementation and employees acknowledged the value of huddles for the perioperative team.
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Tina, "Huddle Implementation in the Perioperative Setting" (2022). DNP Projects. 369.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/dnp_etds/369
