Biased Language in Patient Handoffs Impedes Accurate Transfer of Clinical Information

THURSDAY, Jan. 2, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Biased patient handoffs impede accurate transfer of key clinical information among medical trainees, according to a study published online Dec. 17 in JAMA Network Open.

Austin Wesevich, M.D., M.P.H., from the University of Chicago, and colleagues assessed the impact of biased language in simulated verbal handoffs on recipient clinical information recall and attitude toward patients. The analysis included survey results from 142 residents in internal medicine, pediatrics, and internal medicine-pediatrics and 27 senior medical students at two academic medical centers.

The researchers found that participants who received handoffs with blame-based bias had less accurate information recall than those who received neutral handoffs (77 versus 93 percent). Further, those who reported bias as a key takeaway of the handoff had lower clinical information recall accuracy than those who did not (85 versus 93 percent). After receiving biased versus neutral handoffs, participants had less positive attitudes toward patients per Provider Attitudes Toward Sickle Cell Patients Scale scores (mean scores, 22.9 versus 25.2). Higher clinical information recall accuracy was associated with more positive attitudes toward patients (odds ratio, 1.12).

“These results further support standardization of handoffs as called for by multiple organizations, critical to reducing biased language that can negatively impact clinicians” perceptions of patients and reduce retention of key clinical information needed for patient care,” the authors write.

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