Thesis:

Determinants of alarm fatigue among nurses working in Thika level five hospital, Kenya

Background: One of the primary sources of health technology risks is clinical alarms, such as those from cardiac monitors and mechanical ventilators. Alarm fatigue is a key contributor to these risks. Alarm fatigue is the psychological response to excessive alarms in a medical setting, causing nurses to miss clinically significant alerts. Objectives: This study evaluates alarm fatigue among nurses at Thika Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu, Kenya, through four key objectives: (1) measure the extent of alarm fatigue experienced by nurses, (2) identify nurse-related factors contributing to alarm fatigue, (3) examine institutional factors influencing alarm fatigue, and (4) assess the alarm management strategies employed by nurses to mitigate its impact. Methodology: The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional design. Data were collected using structured, self-administered questionnaires on Microsoft Forms. Census sampling was employed, targeting all registered nurses in the renal, theatre, casualty, emergency, and critical care departments. Only nurses who consented and met the inclusion criteria participated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with findings presented in tables, graphs, and figures. The analysis included descriptive statistics (frequencies, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics, specifically the chi-square test for independence (X²) to assess associations between variables. Results: The study included 56 nurses, with a response rate of 82.1%. The majority of respondents were female (76.1%), and most were aged 31–40 years (78.3%). Mechanical ventilators were rated as having the highest alarm frequency by 95.7% of respondents, followed by cardiac monitors (58.7%). Additionally, 73.9% of participants found mechanical ventilator alarms the most challenging to troubleshoot or operate. Nearly half of the respondents (47.8%) indicated they trust clinical alarms to some extent. Discussion: The majority of nurses (95.7%) encountered clinical alarms during their work shifts. Mechanical ventilators and cardiac monitors were identified as having the highest alarm frequency, while patient call systems and electrical beds had the lowest. Recommendations: Provide targeted training on alarm management, optimize staffing levels, and streamline equipment interfaces to reduce alarm fatigue and enhance patient care quality.