Clinician Perceptions of an Early Warning System on Patient Safety

The Pediatric Early Warning Score (PEWS) aims to improve early recognition of clinical deterioration and is widely used despite lacking evidence of effects on outcome measures such as hospital mortality. In this qualitative study, we aimed to study effects of both PEWS and the locally designed risk stratification system by focusing on professionals' perception of their performance. We also sought to gain insight into the perceived effects of PEWS and the risk stratification system on patient safety and to unravel the underlying mechanisms.

A single-center cross-sectional observational study whereby 16 semistructured interviews were held with selected health care professionals focusing on perceived effects and underlying mechanisms. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded without using a predetermined set of themes.

Coding from semistructured interviews demonstrated that perceived value was related to effects on different levels of Endsley and co-workers' situational awareness (SA) model. PEWS mainly improved level 1 SA, whereas the risk stratification system also seemed to improve levels 2 and 3 SA.

This study shows clear effects of PEWS on SA among professionals. It also points to the additional value of other risk factor stratification systems to help further improve PEWS functioning.