Distracted Practice and Patient Safety: The Healthcare Team Experience.
PROBLEM
Distracted practice is the result of individuals interacting with the environment and technology in the performance of their jobs. The resultant behaviors can lead to error and affect patient safety.


METHODS
A qualitative descriptive approach was used that integrated observations with semistructured interviews. The conceptual framework was based on the distracted driving model.


FINDINGS
There were 22 observation sessions and 32 interviews (12 RNs, 11 MDs, and 9 pharmacists) completed. Results suggested that distracted practice is based on the main theme of cognitive resources, which varies by the subthemes of individual differences, environmental disruptions, team awareness, and "rush mode"/time pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Distracted practice is an individual human experience that occurs when there are not enough cognitive resources available to effectively complete the task at hand. In that moment an individual shifts from thinking critically, being able to complete their current task without error, to not thinking critically and working in an automatic mode. This is when errors occur. Understanding the role of distracted practice is essential for reducing errors and improving the quality of care. Additional research is needed to evaluate intervention strategies to reduce distracted practice.
["D'Esmond|Lynn K|LK|"]
D000046:Academic Medical Centers D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007362:Intensive Care Units D008297:Male D019300:Medical Errors D008875:Middle Aged D009726:Nurses D010348:Patient Care Team D061214:Patient Safety D010595:Pharmacists D010820:Physicians D036301:Qualitative Research D011787:Quality of Health Care
distraction patient safety error Cognitive resources situation awareness