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. 1992 Jul;146(7):806-8.
doi: 10.1001/archpedi.1992.02160190038016.

Interrupted care. The effects of paging on pediatric resident activities

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Interrupted care. The effects of paging on pediatric resident activities

N J Blum et al. Am J Dis Child. 1992 Jul.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the content and urgency of pages and their effect on the activities of pediatric residents.

Design: Prospective survey.

Setting: University-affiliated teaching hospital.

Participants: Seventeen pediatric residents on regular pediatric services.

Interventions: None.

Measurements/main results: On daily logs, interns recorded the activity interrupted by a page and rated the urgency and importance of the page. Almost half of all pages interrupted patient care activities, and 24% interrupted scheduled work rounds or teaching conferences. Interns reported that 34% of pages resulted in a change in patient treatment, but they rated 25% of all pages as unimportant.

Conclusions: "Beepers" frequently interrupt pediatric residents involved in patient care activities and scheduled educational conferences. Studies of interventions aimed at decreasing unnecessary interruptions by pages are needed.

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