Nurses Perception and Assessment Regarding False Alarms at Intensive Care Unit, Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Background The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a critical component of the healthcare system, relying on advanced medical devices to monitor and manage critically ill patients. While clinical alarms are essential for patient safety, their excessive frequency often leads to alarm fatigue, which can reduce nurses' responsiveness to critical alerts. Alarm fatigue occurs when healthcare providers become desensitized to frequent, nonactionable alarms, increasing the risk of adverse patient outcomes. Despite global recognition of this issue, there is limited research on ICU nurses' knowledge and perceptions regarding false alarms in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to assess ICU nurses' knowledge, perceptions, and assessment of false alarms at East Jeddah General Hospital. Methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in May 2024 among 84 ICU nurses at East Jeddah General Hospital in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire assessing demographic characteristics, nurses' knowledge of clinical alarms, and their perceptions of false alarms. The questionnaire was distributed electronically, and responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential tests, including correlation analysis and ANOVA, to examine associations between demographic variables and knowledge scores. A p-value threshold of <0.05 was applied to determine statistical significance. Results The findings revealed a significant knowledge deficit among ICU nurses, with 92.9% demonstrating poor knowledge regarding alarm management. Only 33.3% had received ICUspecific training, and 32.1% had undergone alarm management training. Nurses aged 25–35 years had significantly higher knowledge scores (8.6) than those aged 45–55 years (6.1) (p = 0.014). Similarly, ICU-trained nurses scored higher (8.9) than those without ICU training (6.7) (p = 0.003). Most nurses (79.8%) reported frequent nuisance alarms, with 66.7% stating that false alarms reduced their trust in alarm systems. Additionally, 58.3% noted difficulty hearing alarms, and 66.7% struggled to identify active alarms when multiple devices were in use. Conclusion The study highlights a significant gap in ICU nurses' knowledge and training regarding clinical alarms, contributing to alarm fatigue and potential patient safety risks. Younger and recently trained nurses exhibited better alarm management competencies, showing the importance of continuous education. To improve alarm management, hospitals should implement mandatory alarm training, optimize alarm configurations, and introduce technological solutions such as smart alarm systems and dedicated alarm administrators. Addressing these challenges is crucial for enhancing nurse efficiency, reducing alarm fatigue, and improving patient safety in ICU settings. Keywords Alarm fatigue, false alarms, ICU nurses, clinical alarms, patient safety, alarm management, East Jeddah General Hospital, Saudi Arabia.