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Updated: May 7, 2026
10:38
A Cognitive Paradigm to Investigate Interference in Working Memory by Distractions and Interruptions
Published on: July 16, 2015
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A socio-technical systems approach to studying interruptions: understanding the interrupter's perspective
1Clemson University, Industrial Engineering Department, 130-C Freeman Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA.
Applied Ergonomics
|October 10, 2013
Summary
Nurses assess the value of interruptions by considering costs and benefits. This study uniquely explores the interrupting nurse
Area of Science:
- Nursing
- Cognitive Psychology
- Healthcare Systems Engineering
Background:
- Interruptions are a significant factor in medical errors, as reported by the Institute of Medicine (2000).
- Previous research has primarily focused on the interrupted healthcare provider, neglecting the perspective of the interrupting nurse.
- Understanding interruptions requires a socio-technical approach to capture the full complexity of nurse-to-nurse interactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the cognitive processes influencing nurses' decisions to interrupt colleagues.
- To examine interruptions from the viewpoint of the interrupting nurse, adopting a novel socio-technical perspective.
Main Methods:
- Conducted over 15 hours of direct observation in a Neuroscience Surgical Intensive Care Unit.
- Performed 10 open-ended interviews with expert nurses to gather qualitative data.
- Employed a socio-technical approach to analyze nurse-to-nurse interruptions.
Main Results:
- Nurses perform a rapid cost-benefit analysis to evaluate interruptibility.
- The decision to interrupt involves assessing whether the interruption is value-added or non-value added.
- Nurses consider factors related to the interruptee, interrupter, interruption content, and potential consequences.
Conclusions:
- The interrupting nurse's cognitive assessment is crucial in managing communication dynamics.
- Recognizing the factors influencing interruption decisions can inform strategies to mitigate medical errors.
- A socio-technical perspective provides a more comprehensive understanding of healthcare communication and workflow.
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