Observational study of anaesthesia workflow to evaluate physical workspace design and layout.
anaesthesia
human factors
operating room
task analysis
task switching
workflow
workspace design
Journal
British journal of anaesthesia
ISSN: 1471-6771
Titre abrégé: Br J Anaesth
Pays: England
ID NLM: 0372541
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Mar 2021
Mar 2021
Historique:
received:
14
08
2019
revised:
31
07
2020
accepted:
24
08
2020
pubmed:
9
11
2020
medline:
9
3
2021
entrez:
8
11
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The safety and efficiency of anaesthesia care depend on the design of the physical workspace. However, little is known about the influence that workspace design has on the ability to perform complex operating theatre (OT) work. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between task switching and physical layout, and then use the data collected to design and assess different anaesthesia workspace layouts. In this observational study, six videos of anaesthesia providers were analysed from a single centre in the United States. A task analysis of workflow during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia was performed by categorising tasks. The data supported evaluations of alternative workspace designs. An anaesthesia provider's time was occupied primarily by three tasks: patient (mean: 30.0% of total maintenance duration), electronic medical record (26.6%), and visual display tasks (18.6%). The mean time between task switches was 6.39 s. With the current workspace layout, the anaesthesia provider was centred toward the patient for approximately half of the maintenance duration. Evaluating the alternative layout designs showed how equipment arrangements could improve task switching and increase the provider's focus towards the patient and visual displays. Our study showed that current operating theatre layouts do not fit work demands. We report a simple method that facilitates a quick layout design assessment and showed that the anaesthesia workspace can be improved to better suit workflow and patient care. Overall, this arrangement could reduce anaesthesia workload while improving task flow efficiency and potentially the safety of care.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
The safety and efficiency of anaesthesia care depend on the design of the physical workspace. However, little is known about the influence that workspace design has on the ability to perform complex operating theatre (OT) work. The aim of this study was to observe the relationship between task switching and physical layout, and then use the data collected to design and assess different anaesthesia workspace layouts.
METHODS
METHODS
In this observational study, six videos of anaesthesia providers were analysed from a single centre in the United States. A task analysis of workflow during the maintenance phase of anaesthesia was performed by categorising tasks. The data supported evaluations of alternative workspace designs.
RESULTS
RESULTS
An anaesthesia provider's time was occupied primarily by three tasks: patient (mean: 30.0% of total maintenance duration), electronic medical record (26.6%), and visual display tasks (18.6%). The mean time between task switches was 6.39 s. With the current workspace layout, the anaesthesia provider was centred toward the patient for approximately half of the maintenance duration. Evaluating the alternative layout designs showed how equipment arrangements could improve task switching and increase the provider's focus towards the patient and visual displays.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Our study showed that current operating theatre layouts do not fit work demands. We report a simple method that facilitates a quick layout design assessment and showed that the anaesthesia workspace can be improved to better suit workflow and patient care. Overall, this arrangement could reduce anaesthesia workload while improving task flow efficiency and potentially the safety of care.
Identifiants
pubmed: 33160603
pii: S0007-0912(20)30819-9
doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2020.08.063
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Observational Study
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
633-641Subventions
Organisme : AHRQ HHS
ID : P30 HS024380
Pays : United States
Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 British Journal of Anaesthesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.