Not All Interruptions are Created Equal: Positive Interruptions in Healthcare

Sasangohar, Farzan; Donmez, Birsen; Trbovich, Patricia; Easty, Anthony C.

doi:10.1177/1071181312561172

Cited by 43 publications

(42 citation statements)

References 40 publications

(69 reference statements)

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“…This was seen tragically in the case of Pablo Garcia, where a nurse refrained from interrupting a colleague to question an order of 38 tablets because she had learned that interruptions were undesirable in the clinical context, and therefore administered the dose (Wachter, 2015). Because interruptions are sometimes necessary for clinical work to progress (Sasangohar et al, 2012;Grundgeiger and Sanderson, 2009;Rivera-Rodriguez and Karsh, 2010;Walji et al, 2004), researchers must understand where they are inevitable and use buffer mechanisms, such as an "IV push timer" (McCurdie et al, 2014), or implement system-level interventions at the 'blunt end' to better match the needs of clinical workflow and facilitate safe and effective care.…”

Section: Mitigation Of Interruptions In Healthcarementioning

confidence: 98%

Two sides to every story: The Dual Perspectives Method for examining interruptions in healthcare

et al. 2017

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Interruptions are widely considered a problem in healthcare. Results from observation and experimental studies have guided extensive mitigation efforts, but the effectiveness of interventions remains mixed. We have built on current theories and methods for studying interruptions to develop a novel observational approach - the Dual Perspectives Method - for examining interruptions from the perspectives of the different work functions in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). We detail the method and provide representative examples of the insights it offers, such as why interruptions happen, the role they play, and the consequences of preserving them or eliminating them. We anticipate that the Dual Perspectives Method will help us to arrive at a better basis on which to draw conclusions about interruptions, and will lead to the development of appropriate and sustainable interventions to ensure the effective and safe functioning of the work system under examination.

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Section: Mitigation Of Interruptions In Healthcarementioning

confidence: 98%

Two sides to every story: The Dual Perspectives Method for examining interruptions in healthcare

et al. 2017

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“…A key concern has been the potential negative impact of interruptions on the cognitive processes of the interrupted person-a natural concern from the perspective of applied cognitive psychology. Recent work has moved closer to representing the relevance of the content of interruptions for people's tasks by classifying interruptions as positive vs. negative, or necessary vs. unnecessary for the interrupted person [8,109,150]. Such classifications have emerged from the more interpretive research typical of the quality improvement and CSE research traditions, and they are needed as a first step before interventions can be considered.…”

Section: Key Questions and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traditions of research into interruptions in healthcare: A conceptual review

McCurdie

Sanderson

Aitken

2017

International Journal of Nursing Studies

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This is the accepted version of the paper.This version of the publication may differ from the final published version. Objective. To identify research traditions that have motivated and guided interruptions research, and to note research questions posed, gaps in approach, and possible avenues for future research. Permanent repository link Methods.A critical review was conducted of research on interruptions in healthcare. Two researchers identified core research communities based on the community's motivations, philosophical outlook, and methods. Among the characteristics used to categorise papers into research communities were the predominant motivation for studying interruptions, the research questions posed, and key contributions to the body of knowledge on interruptions in healthcare. In cases where a paper approached an equal number of characteristics from two traditions, it was placed in a blended research community. Results.A total of 141 papers were identified and categorised; all papers identified were published from 1994 onwards. Four principal research communities emerged: epidemiology, quality improvement, cognitive systems engineering (CSE), and applied cognitive psychology. Blends and areas of mutual influence between the research communities were identified that combine the benefits of individual traditions, but there was a notable lack of blends incorporating quality

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“…Interruptions are ubiquitous and pervasive. Although some studies, in particular studies in health care contexts, have shown that interruptions can be positive (Adler & Benbunan‐Fich, 2012; Rivera & Karsh, 2010; Sasangohar, Donmez, Trbovich, & Easty, 2012), the majority of researchers agree that interruptions have a harmful effect on performance and well‐being in the workplace. Many researchers have focused on these events, and in particular on the complexity of the interrupting task (Borst, Taatgen, & van Rijn, 2015; Cades, Boehm‐Davis, Trafton, & Monk, 2007; Cades, Werner, Boehm‐Davis, Trafton, & Monk, 2008; Hodgetts & Jones, 2006; Monk, Trafton, & Boehm‐Davis, 2008; Pankok, Zahabi, Zhang, Choi, Liao, Nam, & Kaber, 2017), showing that increasing the complexity of the interrupting task increases the time needed to resume the primary task.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Complexity of interruptions: Evidence supporting a non‐interruption‐based theory

Brazzolotto

Michael

2020

Scandinavian J Psychology

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Interruptions are known to be pervasive and harmful for concentration. It is also known that many factors can influence their effect, such as the complexity of the interrupting task. Less, however, is known about the processes underlying the resumption of the primary task, especially if the interrupting task is complex. Many hypotheses have been proposed but, as yet, it has not been possible to distinguish between their various qualities. In the current study, we carried out two experiments in which we manipulated the complexity of the interrupting task (either simple or complex) and the time between the end of the interrupting task and the resumption of the primary task (i.e., a break). Results showed that complex interrupting tasks led to longer resumption lags (RL) when there was no break, as has already been shown many times. However, while RL after simple interrupting tasks did not change as the break before resumption lengthened up to 1,500 ms, those after complex interrupting tasks decreased. Moreover, after a break of 3,000 ms, RL were longer overall. These results can only support the hypothesis based on task-switching theories, but not hypotheses derived from interruption-based models. Our findings therefore provide empirical evidence in support of explanations of complexity effects and the implications for research and application are discussed.

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Not All Interruptions are Created Equal: Positive Interruptions in Healthcare

Cited by 43 publications

References 40 publications

Two sides to every story: The Dual Perspectives Method for examining interruptions in healthcare

Two sides to every story: The Dual Perspectives Method for examining interruptions in healthcare

Traditions of research into interruptions in healthcare: A conceptual review

Complexity of interruptions: Evidence supporting a non‐interruption‐based theory

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