Can Social Media Modelled Non Interruptive Communication in Critical Medicine Environments, Improve Patient Outcome?
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Abstract
Background: The advances patients are making in collaboration, participation, and empowerment in health care are greatly linked to what is called the “power†of social media. On the other hand, a number of problems that are documented in critical medicine, such as the Emergency Department (ED) or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are related to the unforeseeable dynamics of the work. This makes efficient and safe communication an important necessity and a top priority to process an ever increasing pressure in these environments.
Objective: Reflecting on the pervasiveness and prowess of non interruptive aspects of communication through social media by patients in social media applications, we examined if non interruptive communication could be an universal asset and thus should be a goal, rather than only a positive observation in the productivity and safety of a high dynamics shop floor environment such as the ED or the ICU.
Methods: Within the realm of evidence based medicine, we used the methodology of Best Evidence Topic (www.bestbets.org) to answer the three part question: “In (critical medicine environments), does (non interruptive communication) improve (patient outcome)?â€. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to find articles presenting evidence about the effect of non interruptive communication on patient outcome.
Results The search generated 77 articles of which 5 were relevant: one systematic review, two critical reviews and two prospective observational studies. Evidence presented shows that interruptions of work flow in critical medical environments are much higher in number than was expected. It shows that not all interruptions are alike. Though some interruptions are necessary to avoid mistakes, interruptions of any nature are disruptive to the work flow in dynamic work situations. Non interruptive communication decreases the need to rely solely on memory for order communication or drug delivery control. It also allows an overall better work flow. Evidence that medication management information technology (MMIT) improves clinical outcomes exists, but is limited.
Conclusions: Evidence that non interruptive communication benefits patient outcome exists, but is limited in numbers and in its qualitative aspects. Most studies concern non interruptive communication, about drug prescription and drug delivery tracking. This is due to the original goals of mentioned research, studies and reviews, rather than to the prevalence of benefits. Further specifically oriented research and studies may prove to be more supportive of non interruptive communication in critical medical environments. The familiarity of personnel with social media communication outside the work place will certainly positively influence the assimilation of non interruptive communication at work.
Objective: Reflecting on the pervasiveness and prowess of non interruptive aspects of communication through social media by patients in social media applications, we examined if non interruptive communication could be an universal asset and thus should be a goal, rather than only a positive observation in the productivity and safety of a high dynamics shop floor environment such as the ED or the ICU.
Methods: Within the realm of evidence based medicine, we used the methodology of Best Evidence Topic (www.bestbets.org) to answer the three part question: “In (critical medicine environments), does (non interruptive communication) improve (patient outcome)?â€. PubMed and Google Scholar were searched to find articles presenting evidence about the effect of non interruptive communication on patient outcome.
Results The search generated 77 articles of which 5 were relevant: one systematic review, two critical reviews and two prospective observational studies. Evidence presented shows that interruptions of work flow in critical medical environments are much higher in number than was expected. It shows that not all interruptions are alike. Though some interruptions are necessary to avoid mistakes, interruptions of any nature are disruptive to the work flow in dynamic work situations. Non interruptive communication decreases the need to rely solely on memory for order communication or drug delivery control. It also allows an overall better work flow. Evidence that medication management information technology (MMIT) improves clinical outcomes exists, but is limited.
Conclusions: Evidence that non interruptive communication benefits patient outcome exists, but is limited in numbers and in its qualitative aspects. Most studies concern non interruptive communication, about drug prescription and drug delivery tracking. This is due to the original goals of mentioned research, studies and reviews, rather than to the prevalence of benefits. Further specifically oriented research and studies may prove to be more supportive of non interruptive communication in critical medical environments. The familiarity of personnel with social media communication outside the work place will certainly positively influence the assimilation of non interruptive communication at work.
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