Evaluating smart pump technology in adult ICUs
Comprehensive Evaluation of the Integrated Smart Pump-EHR Technology in Eight Adult Acute and Intensive Care Units: A Mixed Method Study
This study looks at how well smart pump technology works in adult ICUs by talking to nurses and testing the system to see if it helps reduce medication errors.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 659 (estimated) |
| Ages | 20 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (San Antonio, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT06695169 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This observational study assesses the implementation of integrated smart pumps that connect with Electronic Health Records (EHR) in eight adult intensive care units. It involves interviewing nurses and healthcare team members to identify challenges with the technology, surveying nurses on usability, and conducting simulations with mannequins to evaluate medication administration. Additionally, the study will analyze existing data on nurse adoption rates, alerts, and errors, as well as review patient charts to determine the impact of this technology on IV medication documentation errors.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are registered nurses working in adult acute and intensive care units who have experience with smart infusion pumps.
Not a fit: Patients who are not involved in the nursing staff or do not work in the specified ICU settings may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could enhance the safety and efficiency of medication administration in critical care settings.
How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown that integrating technology in healthcare settings can improve patient safety and reduce errors, suggesting a positive outlook for this approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Research Aims 1 (adoption rate) and 2 (frequency and types of alerts and programming error ). We will include all IV medications and fluids delivered via smart infusion pumps within the past 6 months. We anticipate the dataset to include more than 180,000 of medications and fluid administration events. * Research Aim 3 (documentation errors ). We will select 200 IV medications that were administered with solutions using chart audit. To be included, the selected IV medications should be diluted with at least 100 ml solution. The choice of the 100 ml cutoff point was based on it being the minimum volume for the majority of IV medication administrations. * Research Aims 4, 5, 6, and 7 (usability of the technology, nurse perception, predictors of nurse perception, nurse experience with technology). Eligibility criteria will be confined to registered nurses with at least an associate degree in nursing. * Research Aim 8 (multidisciplinary team experience with technology). The inclusion criteria for the group of multidisciplinary representatives encompass participation in pump implementation and pumps-related quality improvement initiatives. Exclusion Criteria: * Research Aims 1 and 2. Bolus medications will be excluded due to the distinct workflow associated with their administration. * Research Aim 3. Medications with solution volumes lower than 100 ml will be excluded. * Research Aims 4, 5, 6, and 7. Licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and licensed practical nurses (LPN) will be excluded due to their non-involvement in IV medication administration. Additionally, and for Research Aim # 7, the group of 48 nurses who will engage in the usability testing will not be part of the focus group interviews to ensure a broader participation among nurses. * Research Aim 8: Stakeholders from the different hospital's departments and councils (e.g., nursing, biomedical engineering, pharmacy, risk and management, technology committees, etc.) who were not part of the implementation process of infusion pumps in 2018 and 2020 or are not involved in continuous quality initiatives related to infusion pump adoption and quality measures tracking will be excluded.
Where this trial is running
San Antonio, Texas
- University Health — San Antonio, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Azizeh Sowan, PhD, RN, MSN, MSDA, MBA, FAAN — The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
- Study coordinator: Azizeh Sowan, PhD, RN, MSN, MSDA, MBA, FAAN
- Email: Sowan@uthscsa.edu
- Phone: 210-567-5889
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.