Application of the ISBAR bedside handover communication model in a pediatric hematology–oncology department: a pre–post intervention study

Background Pediatric patients in hematology–oncology departments often present with complex, severe, and rapidly changing conditions, which place high demands on the accuracy and completeness of nursing handovers. Traditional bedside handovers are prone to information omission and unclear prioritization, potentially compromising patient safety. The ISBAR (Identification–Situation–Background– Assessment–Recommendation) communication model is a structured framework designed to standardize clinical handovers. Objective To evaluate the effects of implementing the ISBAR bedside handover communication model on handover quality in a pediatric hematology–oncology department. Methods A pre–post intervention study was conducted among nurses in the pediatric hematology–oncology department of a tertiary hospital in Sichuan Province, China. The ISBAR communication model was introduced into routine bedside handovers. Nurses’ bedside handover satisfaction, critical thinking disposition, and incidence of nursing handover problems, as well as patients’ family members’ perceptions of bedside handover, were assessed before implementation and three months after implementation. Results After implementation of the ISBAR model, nurses’ bedside handover satisfaction scores increased significantly compared with baseline (75.20 ± 4.84 vs. 68.82 ± 7.43, P < 0.05). Nurses’ critical thinking disposition scores also improved significantly (269.28 ± 31.05 vs. 248.10 ± 42.63, P < 0.05). Family members’ perception scores of bedside handovers increased markedly after the intervention (78.69 ± 8.09 vs. 54.43 ± 18.79, P < 0.05). The incidence of nursing handover problems decreased from 21.57% before implementation to 13.24% after implementation ( P < 0.05). Conclusion Implementation of the ISBAR bedside handover communication model in a pediatric hematology–oncology department significantly improved handover quality, enhanced nurses’ critical thinking disposition, increased satisfaction among nurses and patients’ family members, and reduced nursing handover problems.