Skip Navigation
The Collection >
Evaluating alert fatigue over time to EHR-based clinical trial alerts: findings from a randomized controlled study.
Embi PJ, Leonard AC. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2012;19:e145-e148.

Clinical decision support systems (CDSS) are being applied widely in patient safety, most frequently to provide alerts intended to prevent medication errors. The utility of such warnings is limited by alert fatigue—clinicians' tendency to ignore repeated alerts. This study of an alert within an electronic medical record designed to encourage participation in a clinical trial is relevant for CDSS designers, as it quantifies the degree of alert fatigue. The study found that response rates to the alert declined consistently over time in response to increased exposure to the alert. A recent commentary called for CDSS to be tailored to maximize safety outcomes while minimizing alert fatigue.

PubMed citation icon indicating hyperlink to external website
Available at icon indicating hyperlink to external website
Free full text icon indicating hyperlink to external website
white box
Related Resources
NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE ARTICLE
Software for symptoms.
Borzo J. Wall Street Journal. May 23, 2005:R10.
NEWSPAPER/MAGAZINE ARTICLE
The role of the electronic health record in patient safety events.
Sparnon E, Marella WM. PA-PSRS Patient Saf Advis. 2012;9:113-121.
STUDY
Drug–drug interactions that should be non-interruptive in order to reduce alert fatigue in electronic health records.
Phansalkar S, van der Sijs H, Tucker AD, et al. J Am Med Inform Assoc. 2013;20:489-493.
View all related resources...
white box
Download: Adobe Reader   email icon Email
tan box
Find Related Resources by...
Resource Type   
 style=
Target Audience  
 style=
Clinical Area  
 style=
Error Types  
 style=
Approach to Improving Safety  
 style=
Origin/Sponsor  
white box