Information Overload in Emergency Medicine Physicians: A Multisite Case Study Exploring the Causes, Impact, and Solutions in Four North England National Health Service Trusts

• DOI: 10.2196/19126
• Publication Date: 2020-06-11T21:18:35Z
• Authors: Laura Sbaffi; James Walton; John Blenkinsopp; Graham Walton
• Keywords: Information Overload; Thematic Analysis; Specialty

Background Information overload is affecting modern society now more than ever because of the wide and increasing distribution digital technologies. Social media, emails, online communications among others infuse a sense urgency as information must be read, produced, exchanged almost instantaneously. Emergency medicine medical specialty that particularly affected by with consequences on patient care are difficult to quantify address. Understanding current causes overload, their impact care, strategies handle inflow constant crucial alleviating stress anxiety already crippling profession. Objective This study aims identify evaluate main sources experienced emergency physicians in selected National Health Service (NHS) trusts United Kingdom. Methods used quantitative, survey-based data collection approach including close- open-ended questions. A web-based survey was distributed assess jobs. In total, 101 valid responses were collected from 4 NHS north England. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, independent sample two-tailed t tests, one-way between-group analysis variance post hoc tests performed data. Open-ended questions analyzed using thematic key topics. Results The vast majority respondents agreed serious issue medicine, it increases time. always available culture (mean 5.40, SD 1.56), email handling 4.86, 1.80), multidisciplinary 4.51, 1.61) 3 reasons leading overload. Due this, experience guideline fatigue, tension, longer working hours, impaired decision making, other issues. Aspects also reported have different impacts depending demographic factors such age, years spent level employment. Conclusions There concern regarding medicine. Participants identified considerable number daily job, traditional departments being ward, exacerbated forms communication necessary maintain optimal, evidence-based practice standards. However, not all unwelcome, need stay updated latest guidelines conditions treatment, communicate larger teams provide quality care.