The novelty effect impacts evaluation when implementing a new communication tool

With over 6,000 professional journals publishing content that includes new medications, devices, and care paradigms, keeping nursing staff updated has become increasingly difficult. During any given day, nurses have limited time to spend resolving information overload. This quality improvement project explored the acceptability and efficacy of implementing a new information dissemination method using social media constructs.

The project team developed a new electronic push communication tool, the "NKD ICU," which utilizes limited text and relies on hyperlinks to allow nurses to self-select the information they want to examine more closely. The outcome aligned with implementation research outcomes and used the acceptability of intervention measure (AIM) and feasibility of intervention measure (FIM).

The NKD ICU was distributed from August 2023 to February 2024. A total of 22 NKD ICUs were sent out, and 159 surveys were collected over a 4-month period. The results showed a spike in the AIM and FIM scores in weeks 7 and 8.

The NKD ICU can supplement nursing huddles and promote active change within the neuroscience intensive care unit through increased awareness. However, longitudinal data show a clear novelty effect associated with the intervention.