The validation of the Chinese version of Handoff Clinical Examination Exercise

Objective To test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Handoff Clinical Examination Exercise (Handoff CEX). Methods The Chinese version of the Handoff CEX was composed of two parts, one to assess the nurse providing the handoff and another to assess the nurse receiving the handoff. A total of 80 handoffs was evaluated to test the reliability and validity of the Chinese version of the Handoff CEX. Results A total of 320 evaluations of handoff was obtained. The Cronbach α coefficient was 0.85 for the handoff provider, and that was 0.80 for the handoff recipient. Weighted kappa scores for provider evaluations ranged from 0.31-0.52, and that for recipient evaluations ranged from 0.35-0.55. The correlation coefficients between each factor ranged from 0.23 to 0.62, and that between each factor and the total scale ranged from 0.33 to 0.64 (P 5 years) received significantly higher mean scores than inexperienced nurses(≤5 years) in all domains except organizational efficiency and professionalism(P<0.05). Conclusion The Chinese version of the Handoff CEX is a reliable and valid tool to assess the nursing handoff, which is useful for educators, supervisors and clinical nurses to provide training, ongoing assessment and feedback to improve the quality of handoff. Key words: Handoff; Reliability; Validity; Nurses