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A study of interruption rates for practice nurses and GPs
Nursing Standard (Royal College of Nursing (Great Britain) : 1987)
|July 17, 1996
Summary
Practice nurses experience significantly more interruptions than general practitioners (GPs) during patient consultations. While nurses perceived GPs as the primary source of these disruptions, they reported a substantial decrease in interruptions over time.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Management
- Clinical Practice
- Nursing Research
Background:
- Interruptions during clinical practice can negatively impact workflow and patient care.
- Understanding the frequency and perception of interruptions is crucial for optimizing healthcare delivery.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the rate and perceptions of interruptions experienced by practice nurses and general practitioners (GPs).
- To assess the impact of interruptions on patient flow and consultation confidentiality.
Main Methods:
- Nurses recorded the number of interruptions before and during consultations over two periods.
- Data on interruption frequency and perceived causes were collected.
- General practitioners (GPs) also reported their interruption rates.
Main Results:
- Nurses reported significantly higher interruption rates (48.5 per 100 consultations) compared to GPs (fewer than 1 in 20 consultations).
- Despite a decrease in the second recording period, nurses' interruption rates remained substantially higher than GPs'.
- Nurses perceived GPs as the main source of interruptions, which they found distracting and damaging to confidentiality.
Conclusions:
- Practice nurses face a much higher burden of interruptions than GPs, impacting their workflow and patient care.
- Interventions to reduce interruptions in primary care settings may be particularly beneficial for nursing staff.