Interrupted care. The effects of paging on pediatric resident activities.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the content and urgency of pages and their effect on the activities of pediatric residents.


METHODS
Prospective survey.


METHODS
University-affiliated teaching hospital.


METHODS
Seventeen pediatric residents on regular pediatric services.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
On daily logs, interns recorded the activity interrupted by a page and rated the urgency and importance of the page. Almost half of all pages interrupted patient care activities, and 24% interrupted scheduled work rounds or teaching conferences. Interns reported that 34% of pages resulted in a change in patient treatment, but they rated 25% of all pages as unimportant.


CONCLUSIONS
"Beepers" frequently interrupt pediatric residents involved in patient care activities and scheduled educational conferences. Studies of interventions aimed at decreasing unnecessary interruptions by pages are needed.
Blum
N J
NJ
Department of Pediatrics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia.
Lieu
T A
TA
D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006747:Hospital Communication Systems / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000592:standards*; D015143:Philadelphia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors