A comparison of two designs for earcons conveying pulse oximetry information. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lim, Hai-Ping; Sanderson, Penelope
• Is Part Of: Applied ergonomics. Volume 78(2019)
• Page Start: 110
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Auditory displays -- Pulse oximetry -- Earcons; Human engineering -- Periodicals; 620.82
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2019.01.013
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-6870

Abstract

Abstract: We performed a randomised controlled trial comparing two kinds of earcons that could provide intermittent pulse oximetry information about a patient's oxygen saturation (SpO2 ) and heart rate (HR). Timbre-earcons represented SpO2 levels with different levels of timbre, and pitch-earcons with different levels of pitch. Both kinds of earcons represented HR with tremolo. Participants using pitch-earcons identified SpO2 levels alone, and both SpO2 plus HR levels, significantly better than participants using timbre-earcons: p < .001 in both cases. However, there was no difference between earcon conditions in how effectively HR was identified, p = .422. For both kinds of earcons, identification of SpO2 levels was more compromised by simultaneous changes in HR than identification of HR levels was compromised by simultaneous changes in SpO2, suggesting asymmetric integrality. Overall, pitch-earcons may provide a better intermittent auditory pulse oximetry display than timbre-earcons, especially for clinical contexts when quiet is needed. Highlights: Pulse oximetry earcons provide periodic clinical updates with little extra noise. Earcons can map oxygen saturation to timbre or pitch, and heart rate to tremolo. Pitch-earcons supported better identification of saturation than timbre-earcons. Interference between dimensions for both earcons suggests asymmetrical integrality. Pitch-earcons may support periodic pulse oximetry updates better than timbre-earcons.