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Clinician Satisfaction with Computer Decision Support in the Intensive Care Unit

Objective

This clinical study measures satisfaction with two decision support systems among staff in a burn intensive care unit: a commercial glycemic management system (EndoTool) and a home-grown system used to guide initial burn fluid resuscitation.

Setting

Largest (425-bed) U.S. military hospital, academic medical center and Level 1 trauma center.

Results
  • Though the two decision support systems were used for different purposes, staff perceived the EndoTool glycemic management system more favorably than the home-grown fluid resuscitation system in four areas: (1) adequacy of training, (2) comfort with the system, (3) ease of use, and (4) trust in recommendations.
  • To note, a prior study had demonstrated better glycemic control and fewer episodes of hypoglycemia with the EndoTool glycemic management system versus traditional paper-based protocols.
Conclusions

In spite of a general preference among staff for the EndoTool glycemic management system, neutral responses to the survey question regarding whether it results in greater time in target range or improvement in patient outcomes reflect a disconnect among staff with the findings of a prior study, which leads to a presumption that continual feedback related to the demonstrated benefits and successes of new technology is critical to ensuring staff trust, acceptance and overall satisfaction.

Authors

Elizabeth Mann, PhD, RN, CCRN, CCNS-BC; David Allen, MSN, RN, CCRN, CCNS-BC; Maria Serio-Melvin, MSN, RN, CCRN, CNS-BC; Steven Wolf, MD; Jose Salinas, PhD.

Source

Published in Dimensions of Critical Care Nursing, Volume 31, Issue 1, p31-36.

Year

2012