Nurses' Perceptions of Personal Communication Devices in the Perioperative Environment.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Technology
• Nursing Informatics
• Quality Improvement

Background:

• Personal communication devices (PCDs) are crucial for efficient information exchange among clinical staff.
• Implementing PCDs in perioperative settings aims to streamline workflows and enhance team collaboration.
• Evaluating long-term user perceptions is vital for assessing technology integration success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess perioperative nurses' perceptions of personal communication devices (PCDs) over a four-year period.
• To evaluate the impact of PCDs on communication efficiency and workflow in the perioperative environment.
• To determine changes in nurses' attitudes towards PCDs after prolonged use.

Main Methods:

• A longitudinal quality improvement study was conducted at a major medical center.
• Perioperative nurses completed two surveys assessing their perceptions of PCDs.
• Quantitative analysis used an independent samples t-test, complemented by qualitative content analysis of survey responses.

Main Results:

• Nurses reported improved response times and enhanced assistance through PCD use.
• Overhead pages decreased dramatically, from 125 per six-hour period to less than one.
• Perceptions of PCD benefits significantly improved after four years of implementation.

Conclusions:

• Personal communication devices demonstrably enhance communication and reduce disruptions in perioperative nursing.
• Sustained use of PCDs leads to increasingly positive perceptions among clinical staff.
• PCDs represent a valuable tool for improving efficiency and safety in perioperative care settings.