Table 1 Provisional search strategy. Database(s): Ovid MEDLINE(R) Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process and other non-indexed citations, Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily, and Ovid MEDLINE(R) 1946 to Present

1

exp Patient Handoff/

2

exp Patient Transfer/

3

exp Transfer Agreement/

4

hand-off*.mp.

5

handoff*.mp.

6

hand-over*.mp.

7

handover*.mp.

8

sign-over*.mp.

9

signover*.mp.

10

signout*.mp.

11

sign-out*.mp.

12

(transfer* adj care).mp.

13

(transition* adj care*).mp.

14

(patient* adj transition*).mp.

15

(patient* adj transfer*).mp.

16

(patient care adj report*).mp.

17

(triage adj report*).mp.

18

or/1–17

19

exp Emergencies/

20

exp Emergency Medical Services/

21

exp Emergency Service, Hospital/

22

exp Triage/

23

exp Ambulances/

24

(emergency adj2 room*).mp.

25

(emergency adj2 department*).mp.

26

(emergency adj2 unit*).mp.

27

(emergency adj2 ward*).mp.

28

“accident and emergency”.mp.

29

“accident & emergency”.mp.

30

pre-hospital.mp.

31

prehospital.mp.

32

emergency medical service*.mp.

33

ambulance*.mp.

34

(triage adj2 room*).mp.

35

(triage adj2 department*).mp.

36

(triage adj2 unit*).mp.

37

(triage adj2 ward*).mp.

38

ems.mp.

39

paramedic*.mp.

40

(emergency adj3 technician*).mp.

41

(emergency adj3 responder*).mp.

42

(emergency adj3 personnel).mp.

43

(emergency adj3 worker*).mp.

44

(emergency adj3 provider*).mp.

45

(ems adj3 technician*).mp.

46

(ems adj3 responder*).mp.

47

(ems adj3 personnel*).mp.

48

(ems adj3 worker*).mp.

49

(ems adj3 provider*).mp.

50

or/19–49

51

18 and 50

52

limit 51 to english language