The effectiveness of pulse oximetry sonification enhanced with tremolo and brightness for distinguishing clinically important oxygen saturation ranges: a laboratory study. (15th March 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Paterson, E.; Sanderson, P. M.; Paterson, N. A. B.; Liu, D.; Loeb, R. G.
• Is Part Of: Anaesthesia. Volume 71:Number 5(2016:May)
• Page Start: 565
• Page End: 572
• Publication Date: 2016-03-15
• Subjects: auditory alarms -- auditory displays -- patient monitoring -- pulse oximetry -- sonification; Anesthesia -- Periodicals; 617.96
• DOI: 10.1111/anae.13424
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-2409

Abstract

Summary: Our study examined the effectiveness of pulse oximetry sonification enhanced with acoustic tremolo and brightness to help listeners differentiate clinically relevant oxygen saturation ranges. In a series of trials lasting 30 s each, 76 undergraduate participants identified final oxygen saturation range (Target: 100% to 97%; Low: 96% to 90%; Critical: 89% and below), and detected threshold transitions into and out of the target range using conventional sonification (n = 38) or enhanced sonification (n = 38). Median (IQR [range]) accuracy for range identification with the conventional sonification was 80 (70–85 [45–95])%, whereas with the enhanced sonification it was 100 (99–100 [80–100])%; p < 0.001. Accuracy for detecting threshold transitions with the conventional sonification was 60 (50–75 [30–95])%, but with the enhanced sonification it was 100 (95–100 [75–100]%; p < 0.001. Participants can identify clinically meaningful oxygen saturation ranges and detect threshold transitions more accurately with enhanced sonification than with conventional sonification.