Innovation and Technology: Electronic Intensive Care Unit Diaries.
Elizabeth A Scruth, Nazanin Oveisi, Vincent Liu
PMID 28592479WHAT IT FOUND
Four family members tested an electronic ICU diary.
Three found it useful for communication and easy to use, but one rejected it. Staff raised concerns about tablet security, data privacy, and the time required for entries.
Key findings
01Three of four family members found the application easy to use and useful for communicating patient status and preparing for care conferences.
02One user did not engage with the electronic diary, preferring to keep a paper journal, indicating the tool may not suit all families.
03ICU staff and families expressed concerns about the security of the tablet device, data privacy, and the integration of entries into nursing workflow.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The usability assessment involved only 4 family members, which is too small to draw generalizable conclusions. The study reports on the development and initial testing of a prototype, not on patient outcomes or long-term efficacy. The feedback is from a single health system, which may limit applicability to other settings.
Declared interests
The project was funded through the organization’s Innovation Fund for Technology.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that electronic ICU diaries improve patient recovery or outcomes. The study describes the development and initial usability testing of a tool, not a clinical trial of its effectiveness.