Smart Glasses for Anesthesia Care: Initial Focus Group Interviews with Specialized Health Care Professionals

Per Enlöf,Charlotte Romare,Pether Jildenstål,Mona Ringdal,Lisa Skär

doi:10.1016/j.jopan.2020.06.019

Abstract

PurposeSmart glasses are a kind of wearable technology that gives users sustained, hands-free access to data and can transmit and receive information wirelessly. Earlier studies have suggested that smart glasses have the potential to improve patient safety in anesthesia care. Research regarding health care professionals' views of the potential use of smart glasses in anesthesia care is limited. The purpose of this study was to describe anesthesia health care professionals' views of smart glasses before clinical use. DesignA qualitative descriptive study. MethodsData were collected from focus group interviews and analyzed using thematic content analysis. FindingsThree categories of participants' views of smart glasses were created during the analysis: views of integrating smart glasses in clinical setting; views of customized functionality of smart glasses; and views of being a user of smart glasses. One theme, striving for situational control, was identified in the analysis. ConclusionsSmart glasses were seen as a tool that can impact and improve access to patient-related information, and aid health care professionals in their struggle to gain situational control during anesthesia care. These are factors related to increased patient safety.

Highlights

Smart glasses are a kind of wearable technology that gives users sustained, hands-free access to data and can transmit and receive information wirelessly
Smart glasses were seen as a tool that can impact and improve access to patient-related information, and aid health care professionals in their struggle to gain situational control during anesthesia care
This study reports views of anesthesia health care professionals, including anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists (NAs), on smart glasses before clinical use in anesthesia care

Summary

Introduction

Smart glasses are a kind of wearable technology that gives users sustained, hands-free access to data and can transmit and receive information wirelessly. Conclusions: Smart glasses were seen as a tool that can impact and improve access to patient-related information, and aid health care professionals in their struggle to gain situational control during anesthesia care These are factors related to increased patient safety. Anesthesia care has focused on improving patient safety over the past few decades.[1] A growing number of patients with complex conditions are anesthetized today This requires extensive monitoring of patients' vital signs (VS) such as blood pressure, oxygen saturation, heart function, respiratory rate, and cerebral function. These parameters are key aspects of detecting life-threatening events early and enhancing patient safety during anesthesia.[2,3] Today, stationary multiparameter monitors have been developed that display real-time VS and provide access to clinical hospital systems offering a comprehensive range of patient information and powerful analysis tools at the point of care.[3]

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