Research Article Analysis Paper: ICU Alarm Management Study

This paper presents an analysis of a research article investigating the effectiveness of educational programs for clinicians in reducing alarm events within intensive care units (ICUs). The analysis focuses on a study that evaluated the impact of staff education on the management of monitor alarms, particularly those related to Spo2 signals. The research utilized an experimental design, including a pretest and posttest, to assess the effects of the educational program on nurses. The study's findings indicated a significant reduction in non-actionable alarm events, highlighting the potential of educational interventions in mitigating alarm fatigue and improving patient outcomes. The analysis delves into the research methodology, data analysis techniques, and the implications of the study's conclusions, including clinical and ethical considerations. The paper also discusses the study's strengths, weaknesses, and its contribution to the existing body of knowledge on alarm management in critical care settings.

Running head: RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 1
Research Article Analysis Paper
Name
Institution

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 2
Research Article Analysis Paper
Table of Contents
1. Introduction..............................................................................................................................3
2. Selection of Research Interest Area.........................................................................................3
The Research Question(S)...........................................................................................................4
3. Overview of the research..........................................................................................................5
4. Foundation for the Studies.......................................................................................................5
5. Conduct the Research...............................................................................................................7
6. Analysis and Reporting of the Research..................................................................................8
7. Usefulness of the research........................................................................................................9
8. Conclusion................................................................................................................................9
References......................................................................................................................................11

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 3
Research Article Analysis Paper
1. Introduction
Monitor alarms are usually used in intensive medical care unit to alert the medical
officers and nurses of the patient condition in the hospital (Brantley et al., 2016). These alarms
have been of help since nurses can react to patients’ conditions in real time and offer medical
services in order to save lives (Brantley et al., 2016). This alarm fatigue occurs due to artifact
and physiological change which exceed the upper and lower limit.
Medical staffs can sometimes ignore an alarm alert or signal in intensive care unit and
may assume it for a nuisance or non-actionable alarm. However, the signal might be true thus
worsening the condition of patients. Consequently, the patient in the intensive care unit may be
in danger and risk of death (Brantley et al., 2016). Additionally, the nuisance of the alarms might
irritate the patients in a room preventing them from getting enough sleep time. This paper
proposes to critique or rather analyze the research on educational programs for clinicians to
reduce alarm events in intensive care unit.
2. Selection of Research Interest Area
As a medical student, doing research can be a challenging experience particularly when
choosing the type of reading materials to use. Consequently, I am often forced to do a lot of
research to come up with relevant sources for any study at hand. I chose the current journal given
the fact that it is a well-crafted book that highlights clinical research in identifying effective
interventions for non-actionable alarms. Additionally, the book has succeeded in determining
whether staff educational program, particularly on the idea of customizing alarms on the bedside,
could reduce alarms in various intensive care units. There are multiple instances where lives
have been lost due to nonfunctional signals in the intensive care unit. As a result, I have always

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 4
wanted to study the topic and certainly come up with some deductions. This book is, therefore,
an active material in achieving this objective.
There are various experiences that I have gone through as a nursing student and future
expert; however, one scenario that struck me was when I was in an internship, and there was a
patient who died because of alarm. On that day, I was in a night shift, and the alarm that was
expected to notify medical practitioners in case of an emergency failed on that night. As a result,
the patient succumbed to high blood pressure. This made me interested in studying the current
topic and finding out the necessary programs to educate nurses on alarms in intensive care units.
The selected article is, therefore, a principal source given the fact that it has delved enough on
the ways of reducing monitor alarm signals in ICU
The Research Question(S)
Cases of monitor alarms signals events have increased in critical unit across the globe. As
result, experts have anticipated that more than three hundred physiological monitor alarms
signals tend to occur for virtually all patients in hospitals. Consequently, the guiding research
question for this paper is to determine whether educational programs, particularly for nurses on
the management of alarms in hospitals especially for non-ECG psychological constraints, could
end up reducing Spo2 alarm signal in every patient in a day (Brantley et al., 2016).
3. Overview of the Research
From the article, the author conducted an educational program about alarm management
on clinical staffs. The investigation led was experimental, and it was successful (Brantley et al.,
2016). The author conducted a study where 20-bed MICU, which included a number of 54
registered nurses who were deployed to about 0.2 to 1.0 full-time equivalent (Brantley et al.,
2016). The nurses were monitoring each bedside with all patient monitored for ECG rhythm,

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 5
blood pressure, respiratory rate and, spo2. The participant was nurses who worked with the
clinician on the MICU. They were to work as the permanent employee on the study unit at a
threshold of 0.2 FTE every week and once complete there was an orientation to be carried out for
a new employee. The number of employees required was about 21 staffs (Brantley et al., 2016).
The educational program was about 15 minute a session which would also provide a
constructive way to reduce non-actionable alarm by ensuring that the alarm is customized for
both low and high-frequency setting (Brantley et al., 2016). This assured that a class was
conducted to monitor the investigation. From the research conducted it was notice that before the
educational trial was conducted there was about 50% of alarms made from Spo2 and about
44%of this alarm was no actionable which for a 15 days it amounted to 128186 or 503 alarms
signal and after the education it reduce to about 39% of which was 78267 or 307 alarm signal
event for every patient (Brantley et al., 2016). The study design is appropriate to answer the
current research question as proposed.
4. Foundation for the Studies
In essence, the study used a conceptual model or rather a design that that employed a
pretest, posttest, as well as a nonequivalent group in evaluating the overall effect of a staff
educational program on the management of alarms (Cameron & Little, 2018). In this case, the
depended variable that was selected for the study included the overall number of low Spo2 alarm
signal events for every patient in a day within the 15 days (Brantley et al., 2016).
The literature review supporting the current study is well written reflecting the overall
state of science on this topic in a logical manner (Brantley et al., 2016). For instance, the
literature review recognizes that there have been many instances where physiological alarm
signals in hospitals are quoting a frequency of about 300 cases in recent times in every patient

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 6
every day (Brantley et al., 2016). In this light, the authors have hugely supported the current
research by recognizing the existence of the problem (Brantley et al., 2016). Even though the
authors support educational training in reducing monitor alarms in intensive medical units, they
have as well given a different view of it. They suggest that until technological advancements in
various monitoring equipment allow automatically set off the alarms by technology, the problem
will persist.
The literature review is no doubt adequately written in regard to the current study area.
The study critique various suggestions in reducing alarm monitoring issues in hospital and
therefore acts as a resourceful section in the present study (Brantley et al., 2016).
The research describes the subject matter and precise arguments supporting all the
assertions guiding the current study (Larson, 2018). Based on the depth of the research that has
been conducted, there it is no doubt that the present research will be a good addition and a
contribution to the body of knowledge on this particular area of interest (Najafi, Cucina, Pierre,
& Khanna, 2019).
While the study has a clear research question, there is no apparent hypothesis guiding the
research paper. However, the study depended a lot on the past researches to conclude the
objectives of the study (Cruz, 2018).
Ideally, the study used a design method that identified the depended variables to below
Spo2 alarm signal events in every patient per day within the planned 15-day period (Brantley et
al., 2016). However, the study fails to identify the independent variables guiding the current
research. The phenomenon under investigation is the effect of educational programs on the
management of alarms in intensive care units.

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 7
5. Conduct the Research
The population of interest was a total of 21 nurses who worked on the bedside and
clinician on the MICU the sample size was selected with a minimum of about 0.2 FTE every
week and also there was an orientation for new nurses who were coming in. The researcher
describes that from 54 nurses that were selected 21 were used as the bedside clinician to observe
and notice weather when alarm rigs are it actionable or non-actionable (Brantley et al., 2016).
The principle measure used in this study was a table containing numbers with different
parameter including the number of nurses (Brantley et al., 2016). The participant of the study
was nurses and was well informed about the research being carried they were at a position where
they can be able to view the record during the time of the rise. The method involved staff in
educational programs regarding the importance of setting patients specific limits of alarms with
the aim of reducing the non-actionable alarm events. The study used a questionnaire method of
collecting data. In this light, the data collected was qualitative in nature where the participants
were interviewed through a drop and pick questionnaires. The data were collected and stored
using computer software which was then accessible by the participants.
The identity of the participant was not revealed by using a variable such as y to represent
the number of nurses in a particular time at the hospitals that are monitoring the alarm.
The methodology used also had some shortcomings because the study only focused on a
single brief educational concerning the MICU. The variable result usually occurs when it is
applied to ECG alarm settings. Also, the focus is only on one-time point within a little time after
every condition of medical intervention (Brantley et al., 2016).

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 8
6. Analysis and Reporting of the Research
The data was collected by the use of a 15-minute session in one week period. The
outcome variables were then determined from the available monitor log files that were adjusted
by the patient census. The study then used the analysis where less than .05 was regarded to be
significant (Brantley et al., 2016). In this light, the study used a sample size determination
method for analyzing data.
The use of descriptive statistics summarized the collected data. In this light, the study
then used the analysis where less than .05 was regarded to be significant. In this light, the study
used a sample size determination method for analyzing data.
The study used computer software adjusting the default alarms setting for a somewhat
selective ECG as well as physiological parameters thus eliminating duplicate alarm signals cases
(Cerdá, Villa, Neri, & Ronco, 2018). The method involved staff in educational programs
regarding the importance of setting patients specific limits of alarms with the aim of reducing the
non-actionable alarm events (Jamieson, Davey, & Nixon, 2018).
While the author utilized the qualitative method of analyzing the collected data, there
were various reliabilities regarding the method (Ruppel et al., 2018). Some of the reliability of
the technique was the fact that the used software allowed the elimination of duplicate alarm
signal events. On the other hand, it was not clear which interventions should be used in gauging
the quality of the research (Ahamed, Campbell, Horan, & Rosen, 2018).
Yes, the conclusions if this study was evident (Brantley et al., 2016). This is because the
study successfully demonstrated that a simple, as well as educational program in nursing is
useful in reducing monitor alarms signal by 39 percent (Brantley et al., 2016). Additionally, the

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 9
paper concluded that the reduction of noise from fewer bedside alarms was likely to facilitate
patients’ sleep while improving their satisfaction.
Ideally, the research raised some clinical implications and certainly ethical issues
(Dominiczak & Khansa, 2018). For Instance, because customizing alarm limits led to nearly 39
percent decrease in alarm signal events, there was a need for clinicians to identify other existing
strategies for reducing alarms.
7. Usefulness of the research
The advantage of ensuring the alarm are customized to each patient helps to save the life
of the patient by reacting on time when the alarm alert
In case one wanted to know more about the research you can contact the researcher via
private message or email the researcher if you want further improvement or if you think there
some areas that have been neglected (Brantley et al., 2016). The researchers claimed that the
significance of their study is that it is useful in educational study and nursing practices. This is
because it found that educational programs were useful in reducing alarm signals. Due to the fact
that I have experienced alarm signals during my intern program, I agree with the study findings.
The level of evidence represented by this research is Level 3 because the evidence has
been obtained from some trials and not necessarily from randomizing
The study obtained can help with further improvement IMCU alarm to save more lives.
8. Conclusion
This paper was a critique or rather an analysis of research that focused on the clinical trial
of an educational program with the aim of reducing monitor alarms, particularly in the medical
intensive care unit. The paper closely analyzed the main argument of the article; the method

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 10
applied the conceptual design model of the study, methods of collecting data, the sample sizes,
and the analysis part.

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 11
References
Ahamed, M. F., Campbell, D., Horan, S., & Rosen, O. (2018). Noise reduction in the neonatal
intensive care unit: A quality improvement initiative. American Journal of Medical
Quality, 33(2), 177-184.
Brantley, A., Collins-Brown, S., Kirkland, J., Knapp, M., Pressley, J., Higgins, M., & McMurtry,
J. P. (2016). Clinical trial of an educational program to decrease monitor alarms in a
medical intensive care unit. AACN advanced critical care, 27(3), 283-289.
Cameron, H. L., & Little, B. (2018). Nurses' Perceptions and Practices Related to Alarm
Management: A Quality Improvement Initiative. The Journal of Continuing Education in
Nursing, 49(5), 207-215.
Cerdá, J., Villa, G., Neri, M., & Ronco, C. (2018). Technology in Medicine: Moving Towards
Precision Management of Acute Kidney Injury. In Acute Kidney Injury-Basic Research
and Clinical Practice (Vol. 193, pp. 89-99). Karger Publishers.
Cruz, S. (2018). Telemetry Nurses Knowledge of Alarm Fatigue and Interventions for Change:
An Education Program Development.
Dominiczak, J., & Khansa, L. (2018). Principles of Automation for Patient Safety in Intensive
Care: Learning From Aviation. The Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient
Safety, 44(6), 366-371.
Jamieson, K., Davey, M. J., & Nixon, G. M. (2018). Oximetry knowledge in neonatal units in
Victoria, Australia: can we do better?. Acta Paediatrica.
Larson, A. (2018). Clinical Alarms Management in the Intermediate Cardiology and
Cardiovascular Intensive Care Units at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

RESEARCH ARTICLE ANALYSIS PAPER 12
Najafi, N., Cucina, R., Pierre, B., & Khanna, R. (2019). Assessment of a Targeted Electronic
Health Record Intervention to Reduce Telemetry Duration: A Cluster-Randomized
Clinical Trial. JAMA internal medicine, 179(1), 11-15.
Ruppel, H., De Vaux, L., Cooper, D., Kunz, S., Duller, B., & Funk, M. (2018). Testing
physiologic monitor alarm customization software to reduce alarm rates and improve
nurses’ experience of alarms in a medical intensive care unit. PloS one, 13(10),
e0205901.