Alarm fatigue and its influence on staff performance

Abstract

An alarm is a warning of an approaching situation which requires a response. The Emergency Care Research Institute considered alarm hazard as the number one health technology hazard for the years 2012 through 2014. In response, The Joint Commission set a standard for all hospitals in the United States to assess alarm fatigue in their monitoring process and to develop a systematic, coordinated approach to clinical alarm system management. In order to comply with this requirement, a working definition of alarm fatigue is necessary. This observational study undertook the objective of defining alarm fatigue, measuring it and exploring its role in performance deterioration. A conceptual model was developed considering the significance of working conditions and staff individuality on alarm fatigue and, consequently, alarm fatigue on staff performance. The results show that in general, performance deterioration is actually influenced by a combination of alarm fatigue, working conditions and staff individuality. In fact, in the case of nurses and response time, alarm fatigue plays no role, only working conditions and staff individuality. These findings suggest that the role of alarm fatigue as a health hazard in the clinical environment should be reevaluated.