Workload associated with manual assessment of vital signs as compared with continuous wireless monitoring

Emilie Sigvardt*, Katja Kjær Grønbæk, Mia Lind Jepsen, Marlene Søgaard, Louise Haahr, Ana Inácio, Eske Kvanner Aasvang, Christian Sylvest Meyhoff

*Corresponding author af dette arbejde

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningpeer review

2 Citationer (Scopus)

Abstract

Background
Vital sign monitoring is considered an essential aspect of clinical care in hospitals. In general wards, this relies on intermittent manual assessments performed by clinical staff at intervals of up to 12 h. In recent years, continuous monitoring of vital signs has been introduced to the clinic, with improved patient outcomes being one of several potential benefits. The aim of this study was to determine the workload difference between continuous monitoring and manual monitoring of vital signs as part of the National Early Warning Score (NEWS).

Methods
Three wireless sensors continuously monitored blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and peripheral oxygen saturation in 20 patients admitted to the general hospital ward. The duration needed for equipment set-up and maintenance for continuous monitoring in a 24-h period was recorded and compared with the time spent on manual assessments and documentation of vital signs performed by clinical staff according to the NEWS.

Results
The time used for continuous monitoring was 6.0 (IQR 3.2; 7.2) min per patient per day vs. 14 (9.7; 32) min per patient per day for the NEWS. Median difference in duration for monitoring of vital signs was 9.9 (95% CI 5.6; 21) min per patient per day between NEWS and continuous monitoring (p < .001). Time used for continuous monitoring in isolated patients was 6.6 (4.6; 12) min per patient per day as compared with 22 (9.7; 94) min per patient per day for NEWS.

Conclusion
The use of continuous monitoring was associated with a significant reduction in workload in terms of time for monitoring as compared with manual assessment of vital signs.
OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftActa Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Vol/bind68
Udgave nummer2
Sider (fra-til)274-279
Antal sider6
ISSN0001-5172
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2024

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
A grant from The Danish Regions and Agency for Digital Government, Denmark supported this work. No funder had any role in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Funding Information:
We thank the clinical staff and personnel in the Departments of Pulmonology, Cardiology, and Emergency Medicine at Bispebjerg Hospital and Department of Hematology at Rigshospitalet for allowing us to observe their work. CSM and EKA have created a start-up company, WARD247 ApS, with the aim of pursuing the regulatory and commercial activities of the WARD-project. WARD247 ApS has obtained license agreement for any WARD-project software and patents. One patent has been filed: “Wireless Assessment of Respiratory and circulatory Distress (WARD)—Clinical Support System (CSS)—an automated clinical support system to improve patient safety and outcomes.” EKA also reports institutional research funding from Norpharma A/S, and advisory roles for Concentric analgesics and GenEdit without relation to this work.

Funding Information:
EKA also reports institutional research funding from Norpharma A/S, and advisory roles for Concentric analgesics and GenEdit without relation to this work.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica Foundation.

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