Understanding Digital Checklist Use Through Team Communication.

Area of Science:

• Medical Informatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Teamwork and Collaboration Studies

Background:

• Introducing technology in complex, team-based work settings necessitates understanding teamwork's impact on technology adoption.
• Trauma resuscitation is a high-stakes, time-sensitive environment demanding effective team coordination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze team communication and technology use during trauma resuscitations.
• To identify tensions arising from the implementation of a digital checklist in a team-based clinical setting.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of speech transcripts, digital checklist interaction logs, and videos from 15 trauma resuscitations.
• Qualitative identification of challenges and discrepancies in checklist use within the team workflow.

Main Results:

• Identified tensions including incorrect task completion marking, missed task recording due to communication failures, and difficulties with dynamic data input.
• Observed challenges in synchronizing checklist use with the fluid, multi-step nature of trauma care.

Conclusions:

• Checklist design for dynamic, team-based activities must address communication gaps and task management complexities.
• Future digital checklist development should prioritize seamless integration into team workflows to enhance, not hinder, critical care processes.