2010 Survey on cell phone use while performing cardiopulmonary bypass

Abstract

Cell phone use in the U.S. has increased dramatically over the past decade and text messaging among adults is now mainstream. In professions such as perfusion, where clinical vigilance is essential to patient care, the potential distraction of cell phones may be especially problematic. However, the extent of this as an issue is currently unknown. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to (1) determine the frequency of cell phone use in the perfusion community, and (2) to identify concerns and opinions among perfusionists regarding cell phone use. In October 2010, a link to a 19-question survey (surveymonkey.com) was posted on the AmSECT (PerfList) and Perfusion.com (PerfMail) forums. There were 439 respondents. Demographic distribution is as follows; Chief Perfusionist (30.5%), Staff Perfusionist (62.0%), and Other (7.5%), with age ranges of 20-30 years (14.2%), 30-40 years (26.5%), 40-50 years (26.7%), 50-60 years (26.7%), >60 years (5.9%). The use of a cell phone during the performance of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) was reported by 55.6% of perfusionists. Sending text messages while performing CPB was acknowledged by 49.2%, with clear generational differences detected when cross-referenced with age groups. For smart phone features, perfusionists report having accessed e-mail (21%), used the internet (15.1%), or have checked/posted on social networking sites (3.1%) while performing CPB. Safety concerns were expressed by 78.3% who believe that cell phones can introduce a potentially significant safety risk to patients. Speaking on a cell phone and text messaging during CPB are regarded as "always an unsafe practice" by 42.3% and 51.7% of respondents, respectively. Personal distraction by cell phone use that negatively affected performance was admitted by 7.3%, whereas witnessing another perfusionist distracted with phone/text while on CPB was acknowledged by 33.7% of respondents. This survey suggests that the majority of perfusionists believe cell phones raise significant safety issues while operating the heart-lung machine. However, the majority also have used a cell phone while performing this activity. There are clear generational differences in opinions on the role and/or appropriateness of cell phones during bypass. There is a need to further study this issue and, perhaps, to establish consensus on the use of various communication modes within the perfusion community.

The relation between smartphone use and everyday inattention.

“…In the medical industry, for instance (see Gill, Kamath, & Gill, 2012), there have been claims that patient lives have been endangered by doctor inattention caused by smartphone use (Halamka, 2011). A recent survey found that among medical professionals performing cardiopulmonary bypass, a situation in which vigilance is critical for patient safety, 56% have admitted to using their cellphone during surgical procedures (Smith, Darling, & Searles, 2011). When it comes to academic performance, the available evidence suggests that students who use their mobile phones to text or talk while completing schoolwork have poorer educational outcomes than those who do not (Junco & Cotten, 2012), and that ringing phones during a lecture can divide attention and result in poorer recall of lecture material (Shelton, Elliot, Lynn, & Exner, 2009).…”

Personal Communication Device Use by Nurses Providing In-Patient Care: Survey of Prevalence, Patterns, and Distraction Potential

“…In addition, 19% of residents and 12% of attending physicians acknowledged missing important clinical information because of smartphone distraction during rounds and 34% of residents and 20% of attending physicians reported observing another team member miss important clinical information because of smartphone distraction during in-patient round attendance. Smith et al [8] surveyed surgical technicians about their use of their mobile phones while operating a heart-lung machine. He found that 55.6% self-reported using their mobile phone while working, 49.2% acknowledged sending text messages, 21% accessed personal email, 15.1% browsed the Internet, and 3.1% checked or posted on social networking sites.…”

Interns and their smartphones: use for clinical practice

“…This may be exacerbated by the fact that not only are the interns in the current survey receiving work related communication, but as it is a personal phone, they are likely receiving additional personal communications. It has been suggested that smartphone use can also negatively impact the relationship between doctors and nurses,10 lead to unprofessional behaviour,11 interfere with medical equipment,12 and be a possible source of infection 13…”