Frameworks for Evaluating the Impact of Safety Technology Use.

Abstract

clared “If it’s not safe, it’s not care,” highlighting the crucial role of patient safety in healthcare. The Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 of the World Health Organization (WHO) underscores the need for national policies and strategies for patient safety, surveillance, and learning systems for safety incidents, and improved healthcare practices, technologies, and medication use [1]. Recent technological advancements provide new opportunities for improving patient safety by standardizing and streamlining clinical workflows and reducing errors and costs by digitizing healthcare processes [2-4]. However, poorly designed or implemented technological approaches can instead actually increase the burden on clinicians, with alert fatigue and failure to respond to notifications by overworked clinicians leading to more medical errors [5-7]. Various frameworks, models, and methods have been developed to guide how to understand, design, and implement technology, and find a balance between the benefits and successful adoption by clinicians. This review evaluated the frameworks and models used to evaluate the impact of safety technology use and adoption through change management in acute care settings. Multiple theoretical and conceptual models have been introduced and used in health informatics to understand and explore the relationship between clinicians and technology and also to evaluate and assure the impact and successful adoption of technology in practice. We identified several frameworks that were hybrid constructs of the technology acceptance model (TAM), theory of planned behavior and intrinsic motivation, hybrid theory of diffusion of innovation, sociotechnology analysis, organization theory, and health-organization-technology (HOT)-fit model. These frameworks are based on various theories such as those of planned behavior, reasoned action, sociotechnology, longitudinal acceptance, diffusion of innovation, organization, Bandura’s social learning, and intrinsic motivation. Focusing on the frameworks and models used frequently for safety technology, we reviewed and compared seven frameworks and their constructors or concepts that affected the ultimate purpose of improving patient clinical outcomes and safety. We also added an introduction on the maturity models that are getting attention in practice.