Presentation
Understanding the Relationship Between ICU Design and Medication-Related Interruptions: An Observational Study
SessionPoster Session 2
DescriptionInterruptions during medication administration threaten patient safety, yet the relationship between physical environmental features and interruption events remains poorly understood. This study examined interruption characteristics during ICU medication rounds and their relationship to physical environmental features. An observational study was conducted across three ICU configurations, shadowing 18 nurses during 100 medication rounds (29.25 hours), recording interruption data and mapping travel paths. Analysis combined quantitative and qualitative approaches, using descriptive statistics, path visualization, and heatmaps, with linear models examining relationships between layout features and interruptions number and duration. A total of 1,115 interruptions were recorded (0.59/minute). Primary sources were self-initiated (21.97%) and nurse-to-nurse interactions (18.30%). Travel distance strongly predicted interruptions, with each 100ft increase causing a 779% increase. Medium and large units had 63% and 45% fewer interruptions than small units. Morning and noon rounds had more interruptions than afternoon rounds. For every 100ft traveled, nurses experienced 15.29% more interruptions in patient rooms and 7% more at nurse stations. Interruptions lasted longer at nurse stations (41.58-54.50s) and corridors (33.81-51.56s) than patient rooms (26.48-43.57s). Findings indicate that travel distance and unit size significantly impact interruption frequency and duration. Incorporating evidence-based design strategies can optimize ICU environments, improving medication administration safety and efficiency.
Event Type
Poster
TimeWednesday, October 15th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East