Alarm Fatigue Theory

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In this section, the author (SS) will briefly present his interpretation of alarm fatigue through the lens of TMSC theory. For the purpose of a clarity, the author will use a nurse working in the ICU as the individual in the model. The adaptation of the TMSC theory into the alarm fatigue is translated into Figure 3.
Stressor/stimulus and the transaction. In alarm fatigue phenomenon, clinical alarm is viewed as a stressor/stimulus. Based on our understanding of the TMSC theory, when a nurse encounters clinical alarm, he does not automatically find it as a stressful event. Two major factors play important role here when he attributes the meaning of the alarm: himself as an individual and his environment. The relationship between the nurse and his environment, known as the transaction, will determine whether the alarm is viewed as a stressful event. The nurse as an individual will consider his own value (is the alarm significant?), his general belief about his patient (is the patient at high risk to develop ventricular tachycardia?), and his sense of control (is three beep alarm a critical or just a warning alarm?). Lastly, the nurse takes into account the ICU environment:
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The framework is clearly defined and has been tested through extensive experiments. The theory also has been used globally, mainly in psychology and human behavioral sciences. Nevertheless, its applicability and usefulness is highly established. Alarm fatigue involves not only the advancement and application of clinical alarms technology in the hospital, but also the clinicians, humans, who deal with it in everyday practice. Understanding clinicians’ behavior regarding their encounter with alarms is as important as addressing the alarm itself. The TMSC offers a framework that fits into and can potentially guide the clinical research on this

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