TYPES OF PAPER
2.6 Posters
Example of a poster abstract
Title: The impact of 12 hour shifts on quality of patient care
Conference track: Impact
Background and rationale
The introduction of long nursing shifts of 12 or more hours remains controversial. While there
are claims of efficiency and staff preferences for long shifts, studies have shown long shifts to
be associated with adverse effects on quality of care. A key claim for the efficiency of the 12h shift system is the reduction of overlaps between shifts on the basis that these overlaps are
unproductive and dangerous. However, there are potentially valuable information and
communication activities that occur during these overlap periods.
Aims and objectives
To determine the association between nurses’ ≥12-h shifts and presence of continuing
educational programmes; ability to discuss patient care with other nurses; tasks that foster
continuity of care; and patient care information being lost during handovers.
Design
Cross-sectional survey of 31,627 registered nurses within 487 hospitals in 12 European
countries.
Methods
The associations were measured through generalised linear mixed models.
Results
Nurses working shifts of ≥12-h were less likely than nurses working shorter hours (≤8) to have
continuing educational programmes; and to have time to discuss patient care with other
nurses. Nurses working shifts of ≥12 h were less likely to report assignments that foster
continuity of care, albeit the association was not statistically significant. Similarly, working
long shifts was associated with patient care information being lost during handovers,
although the association was not statistically significant.
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Conclusion
The reduction in handovers and overlaps between shifts is associated with reduced
educational activities and fewer opportunities to discuss patient care, with no evidence of
benefits for patients. Reduced opportunity to discuss care or participate in educational
activities may reduce the quality and safety of care for patients.
Presenter
Dr Emily Pankhurst, Research Associate, University of Exmouth, USA.
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