Intraoperative Noise Increases Perceived Task Load and Fatigue in Anesthesiology Residents: A Simulation-Based Study

The usefulness and effectiveness of interactive telemedicine in surgery classes - a survey of Polish medical students

<b>Introduction:</b> Computer-based interactive techniques are becoming an important tool in medical education. One of the important benefits of the use of telemedicine in surgical training is the reduction of the number of people in the operating room. As shown in the studies, this can lead i.a. to the reduction in the risk of surgical site infections.<b>Aim:</b> The aim of this survey as held among fifth-year medical students at three academic centers was to assess the usefulness and effectiveness of telemedicine as a surgery-teaching tool.<b>Material and methods:</b> A transmission of a surgical procedure was carried out by each of the three participating centers according to a previously prepared schedule. Each transmission was preceded by the diagnostics, indications, and the course of the surgical procedure being discussed by the facilitator physician who also coordinated the transmission throughout the procedure. After the class, students received anonymous surveys consisting of fourteen questions as per the attached protocol so as to evaluate the class using the rating scale of 1 (the lowest rating) through 5 (the highest rating). The survey assessed the educational value (the knowledge acquired from the class), the form (interactivity, facilitator complicity), and the usefulness of the class for overall surgical education.<b>Results:</b> The survey was completed by 232 students, with 95% of respondents rating the usefulness of telemedicine classes in surgical education as very good or good. As many as 97% of students declared that the transmission had been a good or a very good tool in terms of delivery or adding to their knowledge of topographical anatomy and basic aspects of surgical technique. Higher ratings were given to the usefulness of comments and remarks by the facilitating physician (96% of very good or good ratings) who had been watching the procedure along with the students as compared to those provided by the operating physician (81%).<b>Discussion:</b> The use of telemedicine-based teaching models in surgical education facilitates a better view of the operating field for the students, greater accessibility of educational content delivered simultaneously to multiple groups of students, increased safety of the surgical procedure by reducing the number of people in the operating room as well as reduced burden on the operating physician (thanks to the introduction of class facilitator).<b>Conclusions:</b> In our opinion, the advantages of the presented teaching model are: better view (particularly in case of open procedures), ability to pinpoint surgical field structures (on the participants' and operator's monitors), absence of additional people (students) in the operating room (increasing the safety of the procedure and reducing the risk of surgical site infections) and the ability to go back to recorded operations and perform various types of educational analyses.

Refocusing on work-based hazards for the anaesthesiologist in a post-pandemic era

The coronavirus pandemic has raised public awareness of one of the many hazards that healthcare workers face daily: exposure to harmful pathogens. The anaesthesia workplace encompasses the operating room, interventional radiology suite, and other sites that contain many other potential occupational and environmental hazards. This review article highlights the work-based hazards that anaesthesiologists and other clinicians may encounter in the anaesthesia workplace: ergonomic design, physical, chemical, fire, biological, or psychological hazards. As the anaesthesia work environment enters a post-COVID-19 pandemic phase, anaesthesiologists will do well to review and consider these hazards. The current review includes proposed solutions to some hazards and identifies opportunities for future research.

Principles of minimize bleeding and the transfusion of blood and its components in operated patients - surgical aspects

One of the target of perioperative tratment in surgery is decreasing intraoperative bleeding, which increases the number of perioperative procedures, mortality and treatment costs, and also causes the risk of transfusion of blood and its components. Trying to minimize the blood loss(mainly during the operation) as well as the need to transfuse blood and its components (broadly understood perioperative period) should be standard treatment for a patient undergoing a procedure. In the case of this method, the following steps should be taken: 1) in the preoperative period: identyfication of risk groups as quickly as possible, detecting and treating anemia, applying prehabilitation, modyfying anticoagulant treatment, considering donating one's own blood in some patients and in selected cases erythropoietin preparations; 2) in the perioperative period: aim for normothermia, normovolemia and normoglycemia, use of surgical methods that reduce bleeding, such as minimally invasive surgery, high-energy coagulation, local hemostatics, prevention of surgical site infection, proper transfusion of blood and its components if it occurs; 3) in the postoperative period: monitor the condition of patients, primarily for the detection of bleeding, rapid reoperation if required, suplementation (oral administration preferred) nutrition with microelements (iron) and vitamins, updating its general condition. All these activities, comprehensively and in surgical cooperation with the anesthesiologist, should reduce the blood loss and transfusion of blood and its components.

A scoping review of emotions and related constructs in simulation-based education research articles

BACKGROUND

While acknowledgement of emotions' importance in simulation-based education is emerging, there are concerns regarding how education researchers understand the concept of emotions for them to deliberately incorporate emotionally charged scenarios into simulation-based education. This concern is highlighted especially in the context of medical education often lacking strong theoretical integration. To map out how current simulation-based education literature conceptualises emotion, we conducted a scoping review on how emotions and closely related constructs (e.g. stress, and emotional intelligence) are conceptualised in simulation-based education articles that feature medical students, residents, and fellows.

METHODS

The scoping review was based on articles published in the last decade identified through database searches (EMBASE and Medline) and hand-searched articles. Data extraction included the constructs featured in the articles, their definitions, instruments used, and the types of emotions captured. Only empirical articles were included (e.g. no review or opinion articles). Data were charted via descriptive analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 141 articles were reviewed. Stress was featured in 88 of the articles, while emotions and emotional intelligence were highlighted in 45 and 34 articles respectively. Conceptualisations of emotions lacked integration of theory. Measurements of emotions mostly relied on self-reports while stress was often measured via physiological and self-report measurements. Negative emotions such as anxiety were sometimes seen as interchangeable with the term stress. No inferences were made about specific emotions of participants from their emotional intelligence.

CONCLUSIONS

Our scoping review illustrates that learners in simulation-based education are most often anxious and fearful. However, this is partially due to medical education prioritising measuring negative emotions. Further theoretical integration when examining emotions and stress may help broaden the scope towards other kinds of emotions and better conceptualisations of their impact. We call for simulation education researchers to reflect on how they understand emotions, and whether their understanding may neglect any specific aspect of affective experiences their simulation participants may have.

Sociotechnical Work System Approach to Occupational Fatigue

INTRODUCTION TO THE PROBLEM

Occupational fatigue is a characteristic of excessive workload and depicts the limited capacity to complete demands. The impact of occupational fatigue has been studied outside of health care in fields such as transportation and heavy industry. Research in health care professionals such as physicians, medical residents, and nurses has demonstrated the potential for occupational fatigue to affect patient, employee, and organizational outcomes. A conceptual framework of occupational fatigue that is informed by a sociotechnical systems approach is needed to (1) describe the multidimensional facets of occupational fatigue, (2) explore individual and work system factors that may affect occupational fatigue, and (3) anticipate downstream implications of occupational fatigue on employee well-being, patient safety, and organizational outcomes.

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK OF OCCUPATIONAL FATIGUE

The health care professional occupational fatigue conceptual framework is outlined following the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model and adapted from the Conceptual Model of Occupational Fatigue in Nursing. Future research may apply this conceptual framework to health care professionals as a tool to describe occupational fatigue, identify the causes, and generate solutions. Interventions to mitigate and resolve occupational fatigue must address the entire sociotechnical system, not just individual or employee changes.

Anaesthesia provision, infrastructure and resources in the Heilongjiang Province, China: a cross-sectional observational study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to explore the current status of the anaesthesia provision, infrastructure and resources in the Heilongjiang Province, China.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional observational study of hospitals, anaesthesiologists, assistant anaesthesiologists and anaesthetic nurses in the Heilongjiang Province.

SETTING

All hospitals in the Heilongjiang Province.

PARTICIPANTS

The hospitals, anaesthesiologists (attending physicians, associate chief physicians and chief physicians), assistant anaesthesiologists (licenced assistant physicians, resident physicians and other trainees) and anaesthetic nurses.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Standard descriptive statistics (percentages and numbers) were used to summarise the data.

RESULTS

The investigation involved 1123 hospitals, 405 of these hospitals had anaesthesiology departments (36.06%). There were 2406 anaesthesiologists, 175 assistant anaesthesiologists and 409 anaesthetic nurses. The proportion of anaesthesiologists was 56.60% in tertiary hospitals, 40.15% in secondary hospitals and 3.25% in primary hospitals and ungraded hospitals, respectively. Anaesthesiologists were present in 91.20% of public hospitals and 8.80% of private hospitals. Anaesthesiologists were present in 83.55% general hospitals and 16.45% of specialised hospitals. The Heilongjiang Province has a total of 2041 operating rooms and 543 beds in recovery rooms. The number of anaesthesia cases per capita per year was 326.86. The percentages of anaesthesiologists' age ≥46, 36-45, 25-35 and <25 are 24.03%, 41.80%, 33.91% and 0.27%, respectively. The proportions of resident physicians and attending physicians were 60.87%, and the proportions of associate chief physicians and chief physicians were 39.13%. The proportions of anaesthesiologists working >12 hours, 10 hours≤time≤12 hours, 8 hours≤time<10 hours and <8 hours were 0.55%, 22.04%, 64.30% and 13.11%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study demonstrated for the first time that the proportion of anaesthesiologists in the Heilongjiang Province, China, is still insufficient. The structure of anaesthesiologists needs to be optimised.

Effects of noise and music on situation awareness, anxiety, and the mental workload of nurses during operations

This study aims to explore the effects of noise and music types on nurses' anxiety, mental workload and situation awareness during an operation. Participants included 20 circulating nurses (CNs) and 16 nurse anesthetists (NAs) who completed a total of 70 operations in which each operation required one CN and one NA. The experiment was separated into a control group (operating noise only) vs. an experimental group (3 different music types-between subjects and 2 music volume levels-within-subjects). Results showed that all participants had excellent situation awareness performance despite their mental workload showing significant differences in various phases of the surgery. Music at 55-60 dB caused lower mental workloads and anxiousness for nurses than those exposed to levels of 75-80 dB. When Mozart's music was played, the participants' mental workload and situation anxiety were lower than when exposed to other music types. Music played at 60 dB during an operation may be a feasible solution to mitigate the negative effects of extra noise and thus improve the nurses' performance.

Noise Exposure and Quality of Life Among Nurses

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to describe the relationship between noise exposure, selected health conditions, and well-being among nurses.

METHODS

A secondary analysis was performed on data obtained from 3,818 U.S. nurses who responded to a survey regarding noise exposure, health conditions, stress, professional quality of life, and workplace support.

FINDINGS

Those who reported high noise exposure reported more health conditions, higher stress and burnout scores, and lower supportive environments. High noise exposure was significantly associated with lower professional quality of life.

CONCLUSION/APPLICATION TO PRACTICE

Noise may impact the health and quality of professional life of nurses. Occupational health nurses should advocate for the regular monitoring of nurses' exposure to hazardous noise at work, compare it to OSHA permissible levels, and collaborate with the occupational health team to ensure safe noise levels are maintained. Occupational health nurses should advocate for expanded research on effects of noise on health.

Voice alerting as a medical alarm modality for next-generation patient monitoring: a randomised international multicentre trial

BACKGROUND

Acoustic alarms in medical devices are vital for patient safety. State-of-the-art patient monitoring alarms are indistinguishable and contribute to alarm fatigue. There are two promising new sound modalities for vital sign alarms. Auditory icons convey alarms as brief metaphorical sounds, and voice alerts transmit information using a clear-spoken language. We compared how reliably healthcare professionals identified alarms using these two modalities.

METHODS

This investigator-initiated computer-based multicentre simulation study included 28 anaesthesia providers who were asked to identify vital sign alarms in randomised order, once with voice alerts and once with auditory icons. We further assessed time to decision, diagnostic confidence, and perceived helpfulness. We analysed the results using mixed models, adjusted for possible confounders.

RESULTS

We assessed 14 alarms for each modality, resulting in 392 comparisons across all participants. Compared with auditory icons, healthcare providers had 58 times higher odds of correctly identifying alarms using voice alerts (odds ratio 58.0; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 25.1-133.6; P<0.001), made their decisions about 14 s faster (coefficient -13.9; 95% CI: -15.8 to -12.1 s; P<0.001), perceived higher diagnostic confidence (100% [392 of 392] vs 43% [169 of 392; P<0.001]), and rated voice alerts as more helpful (odds ratio 138.2; 95% CI: 64.9-294.1; P<0.001). The participants were able to identify significantly higher proportions of alarms with voice alerts (98.5%; P<0.001) and auditory icons (54.1%; P<0.001) compared with state-of-the-art alarms (17.9%).

CONCLUSIONS

Voice alerts were superior to auditory icons, and both were superior to current state-of-the-art auditory alarms. These findings demonstrate the potential that voice alerts hold for patient monitoring.

Impact of Noise in Operating Theater: A Surgeon's and Anesthesiologist's Perspective

Background and Aims

Noise is often considered as an undesirable sound. Excess noise is a health threat that deteriorates one's concentration and communication. Noise in the operating theater can be disturbing, impairs communication, and can lead to stress. The aim of this survey was to assimilate information about the perspective of surgeons and anesthesiologists regarding noise in the operating theater and whether it affects their work atmosphere.

Methods

A questionnaire consisting of 15 closed-ended questions excluding one open-ended question was given to surgeons from various specialties and anesthesiologists. The subjective response were analyzed and documented. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics. Association was found out using Chi-square test.

Results

We collected a total of 290 responses, of which 87.6% (n = 254) considered noise to increase the stress level and deteriorates the quality of teamwork (83.8%, n = 243). Noise affects communication among the staff (86.2%, n = 250) and decreases their concentration level (85.5%, n = 248) which could be harmful in view of the patient's safety. 87.9% (n = 255) of the participants were in favor of limiting the number of people in the operating theater. Nonetheless, 73% (n = 211) considered music has a calming effect and were in favor of music in the operating theater.

Conclusion

Noise in the operating theater can have distressing effects on surgeons, jeopardizing the patient's safety. However, a flip side to this is that music is considered to have a calming and soothing effect decreasing the anxiety and stress levels.

A Framework to Assess Alarm Fatigue Indicators in Critical Care Staff

This article examines work-related and Personality personality factors that could influence health providers in experiencing alarm fatigue. The purpose of this study is to provide a basis to determine factors that may predict the potential of alarm fatigue in critical care staff.

DESIGN

A questionnaire-based survey and an observational study were conducted to assess factors that could contribute to indicators of alarm fatigue.

INTERVENTIONS

Factors included patient-to-staff ratio, criticality of the alarm, priority of different tasks, and personality traits.

SETTING

The study was conducted at an eight-bed ICU in a mid-size hospital in Montana.

SUBJECTS

Data were collected for six day shifts and six night shifts involving 24 critical care professionals. Within each 12-hour shift, six 15-minute intervals were randomly generated through work sampling for 6 days; a total of 1,080 observations were collected.

MEASUREMENTS

Alarm fatigue was assessed with the subjective workload assessment technique and Boredom, Apathy, and Distrust Affects, which were measured through validated questionnaires. The Big Five Personality model was used to assess personality traits.

MAIN RESULTS

Work factors including task prioritization, nurse-to-patient ratio, and length of shifts were associated with indicators of alarm fatigue. Personality traits of openness, conscientiousness, and neuroticism were also associated.

CONCLUSIONS

We recommend assessing personality traits for critical care staff to be aware of how their individualities can affect their behavior towards alarm fatigue. We also recommend an examination of alternative strategies to reduce alarm fatigue, including examining the use of breaks, work rotation, or shift reduction.

Fellows and Observers Are Not a Problem for Infection in the Operating Rooms of Teaching Centers

PURPOSE

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the risk of complications increases with the number of people in the operating room (OR). Several studies have stated that an increased number of people in the OR increases not only the risk of infection but also the risk of intraoperative complications due to distractions during the surgery.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study included all patients who had surgery between January 2017 and January 2018 in an OR with the usual surgical team and three or more observers. Patient demographic data, surgical details (duration of the surgery, the surgery being open or arthroscopic, and whether a graft was used), and intraoperative and postoperative complications were recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 165 surgeries were recorded, with a mean operating time of 70 min (40% open surgeries, 37% arthroscopic surgeries, and 23% combined open and arthroscopic procedures). The main intraoperative complications were vessel damage, nerve damage, premature cement setting, and leg-length discrepancy, with 1 case each. The main postoperative complications were rigidity (8 cases), unexplained pain (11 cases), failed meniscal suturing (3 cases), a postoperative stress fracture (1 case), correction loss in osteotomy (1 case), and wound problems not related to infection (1 case). There were no cases of infection.

DISCUSSION

The present study shows that the complication rate when having observers in the OR is comparable to the reported data. The key to avoiding complications is for everyone to comply with basic OR behavior.

Ambient Noise Levels and Wireless Headsets for Communication in Aerosolizing Otolaryngology Surgery During COVID-19

The objective of this short scientific communication is to describe and test a strategy to overcome communication barriers in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era otolaryngology operating rooms. Thirteen endoscopic sinus surgeries, 4 skull base surgeries, and 1 tracheotomy were performed with powered air-purifying respirators. During these surgeries, surgical team members donned headsets with microphones linked via conference call. Noise measurements and survey responses were obtained and compared to pre-COVID-19 data. Noise was problematic and caused miscommunication as per 93% and 76% of respondents, respectively. Noise in COVID-19 era operating rooms was significantly higher compared to pre-COVID-19 era data (73.8 vs 70.2 decibels, P = .04). Implementation of this headset strategy significantly improved communication. Respondents with headsets were less likely to encounter communication problems (31% vs 93%, P < .001). Intraoperative measures to protect surgical team members during aerosolizing surgeries may impair communication. Linking team members via a conference call is a solution to improve communication.

Development and Validation of an Algorithm for the Identification of Audible Medical Alarms

Audible medical alarms are ubiquitous in acute healthcare environments, but caregivers cannot reliably identify them. Furthermore, background noise and psychoacoustic factors can interfere with alarm recognition and contribute to alarm fatigue. We developed and validated an acoustic digital signal processing algorithm for the automatic identification of audible medical alarms. The algorithm uses the short-time Fourier transform to decompose audio signals and extract the alarm sounds' fundamental frequencies, harmonics, and periodicity. This information is then used to classify and recognize these sounds. The identification algorithm demonstrates robust performance (F1 score of 93% to 100%) and 100% negative predictive value in identifying single or multiple medical audible alarms under both quiet and noisy conditions. The algorithm we developed represents a robust approach for the identification of audible medical alarms that perform with high accuracy in noisy environments. It can be used to identify and classify alarms in medical settings for research and clinical purposes.

The Effect of Noise Levels in the Operating Room on the Stress Levels and Workload of the Operating Room Team

PURPOSE

The research was conducted to evaluate the noise levels and the effect of noise on the workload and stress levels of the operating room (OR) staff of a public hospital.

DESIGN

Descriptive and cross-sectional study.

METHODS

The data were obtained by measuring ambient noise during 403 orthopaedic, urological, and general surgeries on weekdays between July and October 2019. We measured the noise by dividing the surgery into three phases. These phases are as follows: from the entry of the patient, induction of anesthesia, and preparation of the surgical area until the start of the procedure (Phase I), from the incision until the completion of closure and dressing application (Phase II), from the completion of closure and dressing application until the exit of the patient (Phase III). Furthermore, the workload and stress levels of 45 OR staff who work in the general surgery, orthopaedics, and urology ORs were measured. Data were collected using a CA 834 noise measurement device, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI Form TX-I), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Task Load Index Workload Scale, and Information form related to surgery and ORs.

FINDINGS

The noise in the OR was higher than 35 dB, A-weighted [dB(A)], the limit proposed by the World Health Organization for hospitals. Phase I average noise level was 63.00 ± 3.50, Phase II average noise level was 62.94 ± 3.75, and Phase III average noise level was 63.67 ± 2.81. The mean anxiety score was 34.50 ± 6.09. The total workload level was found to be 56.91 ± 15.67. Anxiety scores and workload scores had positive weak and moderate correlations with noise levels (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

The noise in the OR was high, and anxiety scores and workload scores correlated positively with noise levels.

Validation of the Raw National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) Questionnaire to Assess Perceived Workload in Patient Monitoring Tasks: Pooled Analysis Study Using Mixed Models

Background

Patient monitoring is indispensable in any operating room to follow the patient’s current health state based on measured physiological parameters. Reducing workload helps to free cognitive resources and thus influences human performance, which ultimately improves the quality of care. Among the many methods available to assess perceived workload, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) provides the most widely accepted tool. However, only few studies have investigated the validity of the NASA-TLX in the health care sector.

Objective

This study aimed to validate a modified version of the raw NASA-TLX in patient monitoring tasks by investigating its correspondence with expected lower and higher workload situations and its robustness against nonworkload-related covariates. This defines criterion validity.

Methods

In this pooled analysis, we evaluated raw NASA-TLX scores collected after performing patient monitoring tasks in four different investigator-initiated, computer-based, prospective, multicenter studies. All of them were conducted in three hospitals with a high standard of care in central Europe. In these already published studies, we compared conventional patient monitoring with two newly developed situation awareness–oriented monitoring technologies called Visual Patient and Visual Clot. The participants were resident and staff anesthesia and intensive care physicians, and nurse anesthetists with completed specialization qualification. We analyzed the raw NASA-TLX scores by fitting mixed linear regression models and univariate models with different covariates.

Results

We assessed a total of 1160 raw NASA-TLX questionnaires after performing specific patient monitoring tasks. Good test performance and higher self-rated diagnostic confidence correlated significantly with lower raw NASA-TLX scores and the subscores (all P<.001). Staff physicians rated significantly lower workload scores than residents (P=.001), whereas nurse anesthetists did not show any difference in the same comparison (P=.83). Standardized distraction resulted in higher rated total raw NASA-TLX scores (P<.001) and subscores. There was no gender difference regarding perceived workload (P=.26). The new visualization technologies Visual Patient and Visual Clot resulted in significantly lower total raw NASA-TLX scores and all subscores, including high self-rated performance, when compared with conventional monitoring (all P<.001).

Conclusions

This study validated a modified raw NASA-TLX questionnaire for patient monitoring tasks. The scores obtained correctly represented the assumed influences of the examined covariates on the perceived workload. We reported high criterion validity. The NASA-TLX questionnaire appears to be a reliable tool for measuring subjective workload. Further research should focus on its applicability in a clinical setting.

Using clinical simulation to study how to improve quality and safety in healthcare

Simulation can offer researchers access to events that can otherwise not be directly observed, and in a safe and controlled environment. How to use simulation for the study of how to improve the quality and safety of healthcare remains underexplored, however. We offer an overview of simulation-based research (SBR) in this context. Building on theory and examples, we show how SBR can be deployed and which study designs it may support. We discuss the challenges of simulation for healthcare improvement research and how they can be tackled. We conclude that using simulation in the study of healthcare improvement is a promising approach that could usefully complement established research methods.

Quantitative Evaluations of the Effects of Noise on Mental Workloads Based on Pupil Dilation during Laparoscopic Surgery

Noise can exert undeniable pressure on human minds, especially during tasks that require high precision and attention, such as those performed during surgery. To investigate whether auditory stimuli increases mental loads during laparoscopic surgery, we examined the effects of operating room (OR) noises and music by measuring mean changes in pupil sizes and subjectively assessing performances during surgery. We recruited 24 subjects with varying laparoscopic surgery experience levels to perform complete appendectomy using a laparoscopic simulator. Wearable eye trackers were worn by all subjects to monitor pupil sizes during surgery, and surgical tasks were performed under conditions of silence, background OR noise, and music. National Aeronautics and Space Administration-Task Load Index scores and performance parameters were also recorded during surgical tasks. Noise distractions were associated with significant increases in pupil sizes compared with those observed in silence, and the related increases in mental loads may have affected surgical performance. However, more experienced operators had smaller changes in pupil sizes because of auditory disturbances than moderately experienced surgeons. Noise stimulation in the OR increases surgeon's mental workload and performance. Auditory regulation of the OR may be better standardized using data from studies of the effects of acoustic stimulation in the OR, and mental stresses during surgery could be considered in a more humane manner. Further investigations are necessary to determine the cognitive consequences of various auditory stimuli.

Physical hazard safety awareness among healthcare workers in Tanta university hospitals, Egypt

Hospital workers are exposed to many occupational hazards that may threaten their health and safety. Physical hazards encountered in hospital working environment include temperature, illumination, noise, electrical injuries, and radiation. To assess the awareness of healthcare workers (HCWs) about physical hazards in Tanta university hospitals, this cross-sectional study included 401 HCWs (physicians, nurses, technicians, and workers) from seven departments (general surgery, orthopedics, radiology, ophthalmology, kitchen, incinerator, and laundry). Data were collected through interview questionnaire to assess six types of physical hazards (noise, electric hazards, temperature, radiation, fire, and lighting,). Most of the physicians (63.7%) were aware of the level of noise. All physicians, nurses, technicians, and majority of workers reported that hearing protective devices were not available, and all HCWs reported that periodic hearing examination was not performed. Most of the nurses (75.2%) and workers (68.5%) did not attended emergency training, and more than two thirds of all HCWs were not briefed about emergency evacuation. Most HCWs were not given appropriate radiation safety training before starting work (88% of workers, 73.7% of nurses, 65.7% of physicians, and 68.3% of technicians). The majority of physicians, nurses, and technicians (70.5, 65.4, and 53.7%) denied regular environmental monitoring for radiation level inside work place. Health education programs on health and safety issues regarding physical hazards should be mandatory to all healthcare workers to improve their awareness and protect them from undue exposures they may face due to lack of adequate awareness and knowledge. There is urgent need of expanding the occupational healthcare services in Egypt to cover all the employees as indicated by the international recommendations and the Egyptian Constitution, legislation, and community necessity.

Background noise lowers the performance of anaesthesiology residents' clinical reasoning when measured by script concordance: A randomised crossover volunteer study

BACKGROUND

Noise, which is omnipresent in operating rooms and ICUs, may have a negative impact not only patients but also on the concentration of and communication between clinical staff.

OBJECTIVE

The present study attempted to evaluate the impact of noise on the performance of anaesthesiology residents' clinical reasoning. Changes in clinical reasoning were measured by script concordance tests (SCTs).

DESIGN

This was a randomised and crossover study.

SETTING

Single centre at Rouen University Hospital in April 2014.

POPULATION

All year 1 to 4 residents enrolled in the anaesthesiology training programme were included.

INTERVENTION

Performance was assessed using a 56-item SCT. Two resident groups were formed, and each was exposed to both quiet and noisy atmospheres during SCT assessment. Group A did the first part of the assessment (28 SCT) in a quiet atmosphere and the second part (28 SCT) in a noisy atmosphere. Group B did the same in reverse order.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

The primary outcome of this study was residents' performance as measured by SCT, with and without noise (mean of 100 points 95% confidence interval).

RESULTS

Forty-two residents were included. Residents' performance, measured by SCT, was weaker in a noisy environment than in a quiet environment [59.0 (56.0 to 62.0) vs 62.8 (60.8 to 64.9), P = 0.04]. This difference lessened as medical training advanced, as this difference in performance in noisy vs quiet environments was not observed in year 3 and 4 residents [62.9 (59.2 to 66.5) vs 64.0 (61.9 to 66.1), P = 0.60], whereas it was higher for year 1 and 2 residents [54.8 (50.6 to 59.1) vs 61.5 (57.9 to 65.1), P = 0.02].

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that noise affects clinical reasoning of anaesthesiology residents especially junior residents when measured by SCT. This observation supports the hypothesis that noise should be prevented in operating rooms especially when junior residents are providing care.

Providers' Reports of Environmental Conditions and Resources at Births in the United States

Environmental conditions and resources that may influence provider's behaviors have been investigated in birth environments focusing on location rather than conditions and available resources. Using a descriptive, cross sectional design, we surveyed a random sample of certified nurse-midwives (CNMs), obstetricians, family practice physicians, and certified professional midwives (CPMs) to describe conditions, resources, and workforce present during U.S. births. In all, 1,243 midwives and physicians reported most environmental resources were present at almost 100% of births they attended. Conditions varied: room noise acceptability restriction of phone calls/texts from any source and lighting kept to a minimum. Trainees were present at most births regardless of setting and provider type. The impact of room noise, phone calls/texting, and lighting on outcomes should be determined. The roles and impact of personnel, including trainees, should be described. The extent to which clusters of resources are associated with outcomes might provide new directions for interventions that improve care.

Getting Better Hospital Alarm Sounds Into a Global Standard

The reserved set of audible alarm signals embodied within the global medical device safety standard, IEC 60601-1-8, is known to be problematic and in need of updating. The current alarm signals are not only suboptimal, but there is also little evidence beyond learnability (which is known to be poor) that demonstrates their performance in realistic and representative clinical environments. In this article, we describe the process of first designing and then testing potential replacement audible alarm signals for IEC 60601-1-8, starting with the design of several sets of candidate sounds and initial tests on learnability and localizability, followed by testing in simulated clinical environments. We demonstrate that in all tests, the alarm signals selected for further development significantly outperform the current alarm signals. We describe the process of collecting considerably more data on the performance of the new sounds than exists for the current sounds, which ultimately will be of use to end users. We also reflect on the process and practice of working with the relevant committees and other practical issues beyond the science, which also need constant attention if the alarms we have developed are to be included successfully in an updated version of the standard.

The impact of the patient's initial NACA score on subjective and physiological indicators of workload during pre-hospital emergency care

BACKGROUND

Excessive workload may impair patient safety. However, little is known about emergency care providers' workload during the treatment of life-threatening cases including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that subjective and physiological indicators of workload are associated with the patient's initial NACA score and that workload is particularly high during CPR.

METHODS

NASA task load index (NASA-tlx) and alarm codes were obtained for 216 sorties of pre-hospital emergency medical care. Furthermore, initial NACA scores of 140 patients were extracted from the physicians' protocols. The physiological workload indicators mean heart rate (HR) and permutation entropy (PeEn) were calculated for 51 sorties of primary care. General linear mixed models were used to analyze the association of NACA scores with subjective (NASA-tlx) and physiological (mean HR, PeEn) measures of workload.

RESULTS

In contrast to the physiological variables PeEn (p = 0.10) and HR (p = 0.19), the mental (p<0.001) and temporal demands (p<0.001) as well as the effort (p<0.001) and frustration (p = 0.04) subscale of the NASA-tlx were significantly associated with initial NACA scores. Compared to NACA = I, an initial NACA score of VI (representing CPR) increased workload by a mean of 389.5% (p = 0.001) in the mental and 345.9% (p<0.001) in the temporal demands, effort by a mean of 446,8% (p = 0.002) and frustration by 190.0% (p = 0.03). In line with the increase in NASA-tlx, PeEn increased by 20.6% (p = 0.01) and HR by 6.4% (p = 0.57).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients' initial NACA scores are associated with subjective workload. Workload was highest during CPR.

Survey of occupational fatigue in anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand

Occupational fatigue in anaesthetists is recognised as a patient safety risk. Better understanding of the issues surrounding their fatigue is needed. This study aimed to ascertain the sources and effects of occupational fatigue amongst anaesthetists in Australia and New Zealand. An anonymous online survey was sent to 979 anaesthetists. The response rate was 38.0%. Most participants reported regularly working over 40 hours per week; men reported five more hours per week than women. Stated contributors to fatigue included long work hours, mental strain at work, and personal and family demands. Fatigue-related behaviour was reported more by men (OR [odds ratio]=2.6) and less by respondents reporting eight or more hours of sleep before work (OR=0.6). Reporting at least one instance of less than five hours off between shifts was predictive of falling asleep while administering an anaesthetic (OR=1.6). More data are required to support practices and policies that promote more time off between work periods and increased time for sleep to reduce risk of fatigue.

Auditory Icon Alarms Are More Accurately and Quickly Identified than Current Standard Melodic Alarms in a Simulated Clinical Setting

Background

Current standard audible medical alarms are difficult to learn and distinguish from one another. Auditory icons represent a new type of alarm that has been shown to be easier to learn and identify in laboratory settings by lay subjects. In this study, we test the hypothesis that icon alarms are easier to learn and identify than standard alarms by anesthesia providers in a simulated clinical setting.

Methods

Twenty anesthesia providers were assigned to standard or icon groups. Experiments were conducted in a simulated intensive care unit. After a brief group-specific alarm orientation, subjects identified patient-associated alarm sounds during the simulation and logged responses via a tablet computer. Each subject participated in the simulation twice and was exposed to 32 alarm annunciations. Primary outcome measures were response accuracy and response times. Secondary outcomes included assessments of perceived fatigue and task load.

Results

Overall accuracy rate in the standard alarm group was 43% (mean) and in the icon group was 88% (mean). Subjects in the icon group were 26.1 (odds ratio [98.75% CI, 8.4 to 81.5; P &lt; 0.001]) times more likely to correctly identify an alarm. Response times in the icon group were shorter than in the standard alarm group (12 vs. 15 s, difference 3 s [98.75% CI ,1 to 5; P &lt; 0.001]).

Conclusions

Under our simulated conditions, anesthesia providers more correctly and quickly identified icon alarms than standard alarms. Subjects were more likely to perceive higher fatigue and task load when using current standard alarms than icon alarms.

The Recognizability and Localizability of Auditory Alarms: Setting Global Medical Device Standards

Objective Four sets of eight audible alarms matching the functions specified in IEC 60601-1-8 were designed using known principles from auditory cognition with the intention that they would be more recognizable and localizable than those currently specified in the standard. Background The audible alarms associated with IEC 60601-1-8, a global medical device standard, are known to be difficult to learn and retain, and there have been many calls to update them. There are known principles of design and cognition that might form the basis of more readily recognizable alarms. There is also scope for improvement in the localizability of the existing alarms. Method Four alternative sets of alarms matched to the functions specified in IEC 60601-1-8 were tested for recognizability and localizability and compared with the alarms currently specified in the standard. Results With a single exception, all prototype sets of alarms outperformed the current IEC set on both recognizability and localizability. Within the prototype sets, auditory icons were the most easily recognized, but the other sets, using word rhythms and simple acoustic metaphors, were also more easily recognized than the current alarms. With the exception of one set, all prototype sets were also easier to localize. Conclusion Known auditory cognition and perception principles were successfully applied to an existing audible alarm problem. Application This work constitutes the first (benchmarking) phase of replacing the alarms currently specified in the standard. The design principles used for each set demonstrate the relative ease with which different alarm types can be recognized and localized.

A targeted noise reduction observational study for reducing noise in a neonatal intensive unit

BACKGROUND

Excessive noise in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) can interfere with infants' growth, development and healing.Local problem:Sound levels in our NICUs exceeded the recommended levels by the World Health Organization.

METHODS

We implemented a noise reduction strategy in an urban, tertiary academic medical center NICU that included baseline noise measurements. We conducted a survey involving staff and visitors regarding their opinions and perceptions of noise levels in the NICU. Ongoing feedback to staff after each measurement cycle was provided to improve awareness, engagement and adherence with noise reduction strategies. After widespread discussion with active clinician involvement, consensus building and iterative testing, changes were implemented including: lowering of equipment alarm sounds, designated 'quiet times' and implementing a customized education program for staff.

INTERVENTIONS

A multiphase noise reduction quality improvement (QI) intervention to reduce ambient sound levels in a patient care room in our NICUs by 3 dB (20%) over 18 months.

RESULTS

The noise in the NICU was reduced by 3 dB from baseline. Mean (s.d.) baseline, phase 2, 3 and 4 noise levels in the two NICUs were: LAeq: 57.0 (0.84), 56.8 (1.6), 55.3 (1.9) and 54.5 (2.6) dB, respectively (P<0.01). Adherence with the planned process measure of 'quiet times' was >90%.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementing a multipronged QI initiative resulted in significant noise level reduction in two multipod NICUs. It is feasible to reduce noise levels if QI interventions are coupled with active engagement of the clinical staff and following continuous process of improvement methods, measurements and protocols.

Factors Affecting Acoustics and Speech Intelligibility in the Operating Room: Size Matters

Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text.

INTRODUCTION:

Noise in health care settings has increased since 1960 and represents a significant source of dissatisfaction among staff and patients and risk to patient safety. Operating rooms (ORs) in which effective communication is crucial are particularly noisy. Speech intelligibility is impacted by noise, room architecture, and acoustics. For example, sound reverberation time (RT₆₀) increases with room size, which can negatively impact intelligibility, while room objects are hypothesized to have the opposite effect. We explored these relationships by investigating room construction and acoustics of the surgical suites at our institution.

METHODS:

We studied our ORs during times of nonuse. Room dimensions were measured to calculate room volumes (V_R). Room content was assessed by estimating size and assigning items into 5 volume categories to arrive at an adjusted room content volume (V_C) metric. Psychoacoustic analyses were performed by playing sweep tones from a speaker and recording the impulse responses (ie, resulting sound fields) from 3 locations in each room. The recordings were used to calculate 6 psychoacoustic indices of intelligibility. Multiple linear regression was performed using V_R and V_C as predictor variables and each intelligibility index as an outcome variable.

RESULTS:

A total of 40 ORs were studied. The surgical suites were characterized by a large degree of construction and surface finish heterogeneity and varied in size from 71.2 to 196.4 m³ (average V_R = 131.1 [34.2] m³). An insignificant correlation was observed between V_R and V_C (Pearson correlation = 0.223, P = .166). Multiple linear regression model fits and β coefficients for V_R were highly significant for each of the intelligibility indices and were best for RT₆₀ (R² = 0.666, F(2, 37) = 39.9, P < .0001). For D_max (maximum distance where there is <15% loss of consonant articulation), both V_R and V_C β coefficients were significant. For RT₆₀ and D_max, after controlling for V_C, partial correlations were 0.825 (P < .0001) and 0.718 (P < .0001), respectively, while after controlling for V_R, partial correlations were −0.322 (P = .169) and 0.381 (P < .05), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results suggest that the size and contents of an OR can predict a range of psychoacoustic indices of speech intelligibility. Specifically, increasing OR size correlated with worse speech intelligibility, while increasing amounts of OR contents correlated with improved speech intelligibility. This study provides valuable descriptive data and a predictive method for identifying existing ORs that may benefit from acoustic modifiers (eg, sound absorption panels). Additionally, it suggests that room dimensions and projected clinical use should be considered during the design phase of OR suites to optimize acoustic performance.

Safety, Performance, and Satisfaction Outcomes in the Operating Room: A Literature Review

OBJECTIVE

This review of empirical literature focuses on the design of operating rooms (ORs) by investigating the physical environmental features of ORs associated with patient and staff outcomes.

BACKGROUND

Many ORs built more than 30 years ago remain operational today. However, most are inadequately designed to handle the equipment, processes, and people that a contemporary OR needs to accommodate. However, the evidence base for designing ORs has been sorely lacking, and little guidance exists on how OR design can improve safety and performance outcomes.

METHOD

A literature search was conducted using PubMed and the university's linked databases. The inclusion criteria included peer-reviewed journal articles that reported some aspect of the physical environment of ORs along with outcomes. The study included empirical studies as well as nonempirical best practice papers.

RESULTS

This literature review uncovered 211 articles. The main themes that emerged include OR design-related factors, ventilation, temperature and humidity, acoustical environment, lighting, and materials. Some environmental threats to patient safety in the OR include frequent door openings, clutter, poor air quality, surface contamination, and noise. Further, staff performance and satisfaction were impacted by factors such as the OR layout and equipment and furniture ergonomics.

CONCLUSION

This literature review provides an overview of the research organized into design-focused topic areas to support decision-making by architects and designers. This article highlights gaps in the research and identifies areas where best practice and design assumptions need to be evaluated using rigorous design research.

Development and Testing of Screen-Based and Psychometric Instruments for Assessing Resident Performance in an Operating Room Simulator

Introduction. Medical simulators are used for assessing clinical skills and increasingly for testing hypotheses. We developed and tested an approach for assessing performance in anesthesia residents using screen-based simulation that ensures expert raters remain blinded to subject identity and experimental condition. Methods. Twenty anesthesia residents managed emergencies in an operating room simulator by logging actions through a custom graphical user interface. Two expert raters rated performance based on these entries using custom Global Rating Scale (GRS) and Crisis Management Checklist (CMC) instruments. Interrater reliability was measured by calculating intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and internal consistency of the instruments was assessed with Cronbach's alpha. Agreement between GRS and CMC was measured using Spearman rank correlation (SRC). Results. Interrater agreement (GRS: ICC = 0.825, CMC: ICC = 0.878) and internal consistency (GRS: alpha = 0.838, CMC: alpha = 0.886) were good for both instruments. Subscale analysis indicated that several instrument items can be discarded. GRS and CMC scores were highly correlated (SRC = 0.948). Conclusions. In this pilot study, we demonstrated that screen-based simulation can allow blinded assessment of performance. GRS and CMC instruments demonstrated good rater agreement and internal consistency. We plan to further test construct validity of our instruments by measuring performance in our simulator as a function of training level.