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Table 1 HATRICC-US outcome measures

From: Handoffs and transitions in critical care—understanding scalability: study protocol for a multicenter stepped wedge type 2 hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial

Outcome (type)

Rationale

Unit of analysis and approach to measurement

Frequency and timing of measurement

Co-primary outcomes

 Fidelity (Imp)

Fidelity is a necessary precursor to effectiveness

Handoff-level; observations by site-based staff, count on a 10-point scale (quant), field notes (qual)

Monthly, Years 2-5

 New-onset organ failure (Eff)

Per-protocol handoffs enable clinicians to follow expected care practices and to anticipate and avoid postoperative deterioration

ICU-level; composite measure of AHRQ Patient Safety Indicators (PSIs) [53] that reflect organ failure (quant)

Monthly, Years 2-5

Secondary outcomes

 Feasibility (Imp)

 Acceptability (Imp)

 Appropriateness (Imp)

These “early” implementation outcomes will influence subsequent fidelity and will help in the interpretation of fidelity findings

Clinician- and ICU-level; AIM [54], FIM [54], IAM [54] (quant); site visit findings (qual)

3 times: Year 1; within 2 months of implementation (Years 2-3); within 2 months of sustainment start (Years 4–5)

 Sustainment (Imp)

Sustainment is the ultimate goal of the implementation effort

Handoff-level; characterized as fidelity over time (quant)

Monthly, Years 4–5

 Affordability (Cost; Imp)

Implementation cost is an important consideration for transferability of study findings

ICU-level; accounting-based cost analysis as described by Hoeft et al. [55] (quant)

Within 2 months of implementation; within 2 months of sustainment start

 Teamwork (Eff)

 Professionalism (Eff)

Strong teamwork and professionalism are expected to result from protocol use

Handoff-level; field notes from trained site-based staff (qual)

Quarterly, Years 2–5

 Clinician satisfaction (Eff)

Clinician satisfaction is an early indicator of effectiveness

Clinician-level; surveys (quant); site visit findings (qual)

Annually, Years 1–5

 Clinician workload (Eff)

Workload influences clinicians’ EBP use; fidelity is likelier if workload is unchanged or lower

Clinician-level; NASA Task Load Index [45] (quant); field notes, site visit findings (qual)

Quarterly, Years 2–5

 Information omissions (Eff)

Per-protocol handoffs will show fewer information omissions

Handoff-level; direct observations* by trained site-based staff (quant)

Monthly, Years 2–5

 Adverse events (Eff)

Per-protocol handoffs include enable the prevention of adverse events by promoting shared team understanding of patients’ care

ICU-level; composite measure based on 10 routinely collected measures of care (AHRQ PSI 90 [56])

Quarterly, Years 2–5

  1. AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, AIM Acceptability of Intervention Measure [54], Eff effectiveness outcome, FIM feasibility of intervention measure [54], IAM intervention appropriateness measure [54], ICU intensive care unit, Imp implementation outcome, PSI patient safety indicator, qual qualitative measure, quant quantitative measure