The Role of the Physical Environment in Shaping Interruptions and Disruptions in Complex Health Care Settings: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Interruptions and disruptions in complex healthcare environments, such as trauma rooms, can lead to compromised workflow and safety issues due to the physical environment's characteristics. This scoping review investigated the impact of the physical environment on interruptions and disruptions and the associated outcomes in complex environments, as they relate to the components of the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) was used to conduct the scoping review. CINAHL, Web of Science, and PubMed databases were searched. After removing duplicates and eligibility screening, quality assessment was conducted using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool (MMAT). Of 1,158 articles found, 20 were selected. Poor layout configurations, tripping hazards, and technology integration were common examples. More research must be conducted to unveil the impact of the physical environment on interruptions and disruptions.