“ISBAR in Care Transitions for Critically Ill Adults in the Emergency Department: An Integrative Literature Review”

Effective communication is essential in nursing practice, especially during transitions of care, when clinical responsibility and patient information are transferred between professionals or teams. In the Emergency Department, this process is particularly complex due to patients’ clinical instability, high patient turnover, the need for rapid decisions, and the involvement of multiple professionals—factors that increase the risk of communication breakdowns and adverse events. To promote continuity and safety of care, structured communication tools have been recommended, notably the ISBAR model (Identification, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation). In Portugal, Directorate-General for Health Standard No. 001/2017 mandates the use of ISBAR for effective communication during the transition of care, and also provides for professional training and monitoring through audits. Despite the recommendation and the growing use of ISBAR, a synthesis of the available evidence regarding its specific application to critically ill adults in the Emergency Department is needed, taking into account its effects on clinical communication, patient safety, and the conditions necessary for its implementation. The main objective of this review is: To critically analyze and synthesize the evidence on the use of ISBAR in care transitions for critically ill adults in the Emergency Department, with regard to clinical communication, safety, and conditions for implementation.