Sepideh Yahyaei, Dr Homeira Khoddam, Dr Seyedmahrokh Alinaghimaddah, Dr Mahnaz Modanloo,
Volume 20, Issue 1 (4-2023)
Abstract
Background: Fatigue and indifference among critical care nurses due to intermittent and sometimes false alarms are common problems associated with working with alarming equipment. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of alarm fatigue and its relevant factors among critical care nurses in Golestan province, Iran.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study examined critical care nurses in Golestan province in 2019. A total of 308 critical care nurses (working in ICUs and CCUs) from 11 hospitals were included in the study using the census method based on the inclusion criteria. Data were collected through a 13-item questionnaire assessing nurses’ alarm fatigue. The researcher randomly recorded the number and type of alarms per hour during morning, afternoon, and evening shifts. Simple and multiple linear regression tests analyzed the association between alarm fatigue and nurses’ demographic and professional characteristics as underlying factors. Data analysis was conducted at a significance level of 0.05 and a confidence interval of 95% using SPSS16.
Results: Most nurses, who were predominantly female (79.2%) and had a clinical work experience of 5 years or less in critical care units (69.5%), reported a mean alarm fatigue score of 24.1±6.52. Additionally, 63.3% of the nurses experienced moderate alarm fatigue. It was found that female nurses (87.5%), those working as compulsory medical service workers (35.9%), those assigned to variable shifts (87.2%), and those required to work mandatory overtime (81.5%) reported higher levels of moderate alarm fatigue compared to others. When multiple linear regression analysis was conducted, controlling for the effects of confounding variables, it was observed that among all independent demographic and occupational variables, only gender (b=-0.18, p=0.01), education level (b =0.14, p=0.02), and type of overtime (b=0.15, p=0.01) had statistically significant effects on the response variable, namely the alarm fatigue score (b=-0.18, p=0.01)
Conclusion: Given that most nurses experience moderate alarm fatigue, it is recommended to implement strategies to enhance the quality of care and patient safety, such as providing critical care nurses with appropriate training on the practical and safe management of alarm systems.
Asuman Çobanoğlu ,
Volume 22, Issue 1 (3-2025)
Abstract
Background: Critical care nurses’ spiritual care and end-of-life care practices are important in providing and maintaining holistic care. This study aimed to explore the relationship between critical care nurses’ perceptions of spiritual care and their attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care.
Methods: This cross-sectional and correlational study was conducted with 174 critical care nurses employed in two state hospitals in northern Turkey. Research data were collected from May 2024 to July 2024. The inclusion criteria were being employed as a nurse in the intensive care unit for at least one year and voluntarily participating in the study. Data were collected using a Nurse Introduction Form, the Spirituality and Spiritual Care Rating Scale (SSCRS), and the End-of-Life Care Attitudes and Behaviors Scale (EACAS) of Intensive Care Nurses. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis test were employed, along with Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical multiple regression analysis, to analyze the data.
Results: There was no significant correlation between the mean total score of critical care nurses on SSCRS and their mean total score regarding attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care (r = -0.063, p = 0.408). There was a moderate positive correlation between age (r = 0.224, p = 0.03) and professional experience (r = 0.189, p = 0.013) of critical care nurses and their attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care (p <0.05). Age (β = 0.013, p = 0.014), professional experience (β = 0.018, p = 0.041), and the status of receiving training on end-of-life care (β = 0.399, p = 0.00) were the most important predictors of the attitudes and behaviors of critical care nurses toward end-of-life care.
Conclusion: In this study, it was determined that critical care nurses’ perception of spiritual care was not a significant predictor of their attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care. However, it was seen that nurses' age and professional experience may affect their attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care. In this regard, educational programs to improve nurses’ perception of spiritual care and their attitudes and behaviors toward end-of-life care are recommended.
