What is SBAR?
In the fast-paced environment of healthcare, clear communication can be the difference between a smooth process and a critical error. Providing too much extraneous detail can obscure the main point, while providing too little can leave out vital context. To solve this, effective teams use a shared framework for communication—a mutually agreed-upon structure that sets clear expectations for both the sender and the receiver of information.
One of the most powerful and widely used frameworks is SBAR. SBAR is an easy-to-remember acronym that provides a simple structure for sharing information.
It stands for:
- Situation (what is going on?)
- Background (what is the context?)
- Assessment (what do I think the problem is?)
- Recommendation (what do I suggest or need from you?)
Using this framework ensures that the most important details are conveyed logically and concisely, optimizing team communication when it matters most.
Resources
The video below provides a concise introduction to the SBAR framework, explaining what it is, why it’s important, and how it helps optimize team communication in any clinical setting.
Communication Tools: SBAR
This video explains why structured communication is vital in a clinical setting and breaks down the four core components: Situation, Background, Assessment, and Recommendation. It is an excerpt from the QPSi Academy course, Team Up for Success: Enhancing Healthcare Outcomes through Interprofessional Collaboration. Follow this link to browse free CME courses in a variety of topics created by UF Health Experts.