Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41140292›Full record

Observational studyJournal of patient safety2026

Evaluation of Interruptions During IV Smart Pump Medication Administration in Intensive Care Units.

Cidalia J Vital, Ginger Schroers, Katie Fortnam, Stephen F Eckel, Dan Degnan, Lori T Armistead, Karen K Giuliano

Abstract readObservational Study
In one paragraph

Observational study in Journal of patient safety, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Cidalia J VitalNurse Scientist and Program Director Nursing Research and Holistic Nursing Baystate Medical Center Springfield Massachusetts, Research Liaison and Lecturer, Elaine Marieb College of Nursing, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.ORCID 0000-0003-2753-2683
Ginger SchroersMarcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, IL.
Katie FortnamElaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA.
Stephen F EckelGlobal Engagement, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC.
Dan DegnanPurdue University College of Pharmacy, West Lafayette, IN.
Lori T ArmisteadDivision of Practice Advancement and Clinical Education, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC.
Karen K GiulianoBaystate Medical Center Springfield Massachusetts, Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation, University of Massachusetts Amherst, College of Nursing and Institute for Applied Life Sciences, Amherst, MA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThe objective of this project was to contribute to the understanding of how interruptions impact intravenous (IV) medication processes and identify areas for improvement. The specific aims were to evaluate the type, frequency, and duration of interruptions, including IV smart pump (IVSP) alerts and alarms, that nurses experience during IVSP activities.

designReal-world observational, exploratory, noninterventional design.

methodsLevel 1 academic medical center in the Northeast region of the United States. Data on interruptions were documented using an electronic Case Report Form.

resultsOne hundred IVSP medication administration activities were observed, of which 25% encountered at least one IVSP alert or alarm. The mean duration for each alert/alarm was 17.9 seconds and alerts/alarms occurred every 1.69 minutes during the medication administration activity. Alarms and alerts accounted for 24.5% of the total duration of each IVSP activity, indicating that nurses spent about 25% of their medication administration time responding to alerts/alarms. Regarding other types of interruptions, 44% of the 100 IVSP medication administration activities experienced at least one interruption, averaging 1.23 per activity. The main sources of interruptions were health care professionals (20.4%), medical devices (20.4%), and other nurses (16.7%). Phone calls created the longest interruptions, averaging 48.0 seconds, followed by self-initiated interruptions at 45.7 seconds.

conclusionFindings reveal that interruptions, including IVSP alerts and alarms, significantly impact IV medication administration, consuming nearly 25% of nurses' activity time. Additional interruptions, often caused by health care professionals and phone calls, further disrupt workflows and extend task durations. Addressing these challenges through streamlined alert systems and improved communication protocols is essential to enhance efficiency and patient safety in clinical settings.

Indexed as

Infusion PumpsIntensive Care UnitsMedication ErrorsAcademic Medical CentersClinical AlarmsHumansalerts/alarmsinterruptionsIV medication processesIV smart pumppatient safety

Identifiers

PMID41140292
PMCPMC12911494

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.