Cognitive Distractions During Sonographic Procedures: Reducing Noise-Based and Light-Based Interruptions in Hospital Rooms

Abstract

Sonographers experience a high cognitive load in hospital-based care. High ambient noise and frequent noise-based interruptions include knocking on the room door, questions from others in the room or through communication technology, alarms, alerts from personal devices, and carts and people passing in the hallway. In addition, other providers turning on the overhead light is distracting for exams that need to be conducted in reduced lighting conditions. This article suggests strategies to improve working conditions for sonographers conducting exams on a patient in the hospital room. Our strategies emerge from human factors methods and principles, which derive from communication principles and theory. These strategies are organized by reducing noise-based and light-based interruptions in the hospital room and hallway, primarily through changes to the built environment and communication technology settings and reducing the use of speech during cognitively challenging time periods through training. Most of the strategies are low-cost and can be implemented within the current built environment and communication technology infrastructure. We anticipate that these strategies could enhance patient outcomes, increase patient satisfaction, improve sonographers’ job satisfaction, protect provider health, and increase procedural efficiency.