Information displays for automated surveillance algorithms of in-hospital patient deterioration: a scoping review

Surveillance algorithms that predict patient decompensation are increasingly integrated with clinical workflows to help identify patients at risk of in-hospital deterioration. This scoping review aimed to identify the design features of the information displays, the types of algorithm that drive the display, and the effect of these displays on process and patient outcomes.

The scoping review followed Arksey and O'Malley's framework. Five databases were searched with dates between January 1, 2009 and January 26, 2022. Inclusion criteria were: participants-clinicians in inpatient settings; concepts-intervention as deterioration information displays that leveraged automated AI algorithms; comparison as usual care or alternative displays; outcomes as clinical, workflow process, and usability outcomes; and context as simulated or real-world in-hospital settings in any country. Screening, full-text review, and data extraction were reviewed independently by 2 researchers in each step. Display categories were identified inductively through consensus.

Of 14 575 articles, 64 were included in the review, describing 61 unique displays. Forty-one displays were designed for specific deteriorations (eg, sepsis), 24 provided simple alerts (ie, text-based prompts without relevant patient data), 48 leveraged well-accepted score-based algorithms, and 47 included nurses as the target users. Only 1 out of the 10 randomized controlled trials reported a significant effect on the primary outcome.

Despite significant advancements in surveillance algorithms, most information displays continue to leverage well-understood, well-accepted score-based algorithms. Users' trust, algorithmic transparency, and workflow integration are significant hurdles to adopting new algorithms into effective decision support tools.