Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42299438›Full record

ArticleArchives of academic emergency medicine2026

The Primary Sources of Interruptions Experienced by Physicians and Nurses in Emergency Departments: A Scoping Review.

Navaz Emadi, Rita Mojtahedzadeh, Seyyed Farshad Allameh, Kamal Basiri, Aeen Mohammadi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Archives of academic emergency medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing 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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Trial
  2. 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

5 authors.

Navaz EmadiDepartment of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Rita MojtahedzadehDepartment of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Seyyed Farshad AllamehDepartment of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Kamal BasiriDepartment of Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine, Sina Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Aeen MohammadiDepartment of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Introduction: Interruptions are common in emergency departments (ED) and frequently occur during critical clinical tasks. These interruptions disrupt workflow, reduce situational awareness, increase the risk of errors, and may compromise patient safety. Identifying and mapping their sources is therefore essential to guide targeted strategies and improve the quality of care. This scoping review aimed to identify and categorize the primary sources of work-related interruptions among physicians and nurses in the ED. Methods: The review question, developed using the PCC framework (physicians and nurses; work-related interruptions; EDs), sought to identify the primary sources of interruptions in ED settings. A comprehensive search was performed in PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar to locate peer-reviewed studies published up to September 2025. Two reviewers independently screened the studies and extracted the data. Results: A total of 12 studies met the inclusion criteria. Reported interruption rates varied across settings and professional roles. The primary sources of interruptions were grouped into six major categories: colleague interference, phone and pager alerts, patient-initiated interruptions, family or companion interference, technical failures and lack of resources, and environmental noise. Most interruptions occurred at nursing or physician workstations and during medication preparation, documentation, or direct patient care. Conclusion: This scoping review provides a comprehensive overview of the main sources of interruptions in ED. Understanding where and why these interruptions occur can guide the development of targeted educational, organizational, and environmental interventions. Reducing avoidable interruptions may enhance staff performance, improve patient safety, and optimize the quality of emergency care.

Indexed as

Emergency ServiceHospital (MeSH); Workflow (MeSH)NursesPhysiciansWork-related Interruptions

Identifiers

PMID42299438
PMCPMC13265070

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

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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.