Affiliations: [a] ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, San Paolo Bachelor School of Nursing, San Paolo Teaching Hospital, Milan, Italy
| [b] University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| [c] Emergency Department, San Paolo Teaching Hospital, Milan, Italy
| [d] San Paolo Teaching Hospital, Milan, Italy
| [e] FatebeneFratelli Teaching Hospital, Rome, Italy
Correspondence:
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Correspondence to: Dr. Marcel M. Verbeek, TML, r.830, Department of Neurology, Radboud University Medical Center, P.O. Box 9101, 6500 HB Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Tel.: +31 24 36 14567; Fax: +31 2436 68754; E-mail: Marcel.verbeek@radboudumc.nl.
Note: [1] These authors contributed equally to this work.
Abstract: BACKGROUND:Technological progress improves health care efficiency, quality, safety, and cost, supporting clinical activity in various scenarios, such as Intensive Care Unit (ICU). A timely response to alarms from monitors and other ICU electromedical devices is therefore crucial. The number of false alarms tend to desensitize care providers increasing the risk of experiencing alarm fatigue and, at times, lead to severe consequences for patients. OBJECTIVES: To assess the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire and to explore the phenomenon of alarm fatigue among nurses working in intensive care settings. METHODS: The CVI-I was calculated to evaluate the validity of the content of the tool. Construct validity was investigated through exploratory factor analysis. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient (α) was used to examine the internal consistency of the scale and Spearman’s rho coefficient to test for stability.We designed a multicentre cross-sectional survey. A convenience sample of nurses from 4 Major Italian hospitals was recruited. The nurses completed the Italian version of the Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire. RESULTS: The content validity index CVI-S of the scale (CVI-S) was 91.11%; Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was 0.71. The Italian version of the tool explained 67.18%of the overall variance. 396 nurses were enrolled (79.84%). The overall level of alarm fatigue was Me = 29 [22;30]. 42.17%of the sample reported prior experience with alarm fatigue incidents. CONCLUSIONS: The extension of alarm fatigue requires the adoption of a preventive intervention plan. The Italian version of the Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire shows promising psychometric properties.
Keywords: Alarm fatigue, intensive care unit, nurses, patient safety
