Effective Use of Structural Tool for Clinical Communication

Effective clinical communication has a significant impact on the continuity of treatment, minimi- sing errors and harm within healthcare settings.^1,2 This is recognised as a core non-technical skill.3,4 Despite its critical importance, communication is frequently executed poorly, often characterised by the omission of vital information and the inclusion of unnecessary details.5 This deficiency highlights a pressing need for improved practices in both hospital and community environments. Evidence consistently demonstrates that employing a structured, standardised framework for clin-ical communication, such as ISBAR (Introduction, Situation, Background, Assessment, Recom-mendation), substantially enhances patient care.5–8 ISBAR provides a versatile communication tool suitable for use across various clinical practices. Its efficacy is maximised when all healthcare professionals involved are experienced in its use. Both healthcare students and practitioners should be provided with comprehensive education and training in ISBAR to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality communication.1 This paper aims to elucidate the key components of effective clinical communication, utilising the ISBAR framework as a guiding principle.