Improving clinical handovers and communication to improve continuity of care for hospitalised small and sick newborns in selected public hospitals in Kenya    

Transfer of care and responsibility for patients from one healthcare provider to another during hospitalisation is critical to them receiving the right interventions. The overall quality and safety of care is dependent on accurate transfer of patient information. Sick newborns are particularly dependent on health workers but previous work suggests handover on newborn units (NBUs) may be poor in Kenya. 

I will review previous research on quantitative survey tools used to assess whether methods used to improve handover are effective. I will explore the current practice of Kenyan nurses doing shift-to-shift handovers and work with them to develop a tool that would be useful on their wards. I will then conduct preliminary tests on the tool. 

I will determine whether a new survey tool could be used routinely and whether it could improve handover practices and care.