Dataset for Evaluating the Construct Validity of the Charité Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire

This is the dataset that we used for evaluating the construct validity of the Charité Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire (CAFQa) in a forthcoming publication. All items were answered on a 5-point Likert scale and were scored by us as follows: -2/“I do not agree at all”, -1/“I do not agree”, 0/“I agree in part”, 1/“I agree”, 2/"I very much agree".

A previous version of this upload included only the cleaned and imputed data set (please refer to the methods section of the forthcoming publication for more details). A new version provides the raw data as well.

Variable names and their corresponding item. Items marked with a were reversely scored.

Variable Name
CAFQa Item

procedural_instruction
In my ward, procedural instruction on how to deal with alarms is regularly updated and shared with all staff.a

respond_quickly
Responsible personnel respond quickly and appropriately to alarms.a

motivation_decrease
With too many alarms on my ward, my work performance, and motivation decrease.

physical_symptoms
Too many alarms trigger physical symptoms for me, e.g., nervousness, headaches, and sleep disturbances.

ward_floor
The acoustic and visual monitor alarms used on my ward floor and in my nurse station allow me to assign the patient, the device, and the situation clearly.a

reduce_concentration
Alarms reduce my concentration and attention.

alarm_limits
Alarm limits are regularly adjusted based on patients' clinical pictures (e.g., blood pressure limits for conditions after bypass surgery).a

interrupt_workflow
My or neighboring patients' alarms or crisis alarms frequently interrupt my workflow.

alarms_confuse
There are situations when alarms confuse me.

Other variables in the data set.

Variable Name
Explanation

self_reported_AF
self-estimated alarm fatigue in percent

estimated_false_alarms
perceived rate of false alarms in the participant's ICU

monthly_time_on_ICU
the average number of workdays per month in an intensive care or monitoring area

ICU_experience
number of years/months of ICU experience

profession
physician, nurse, or supporting nurse

Members of the Study Group in alphabetical order: Dr. med. Mirza Aghamov1, Prof. Dr. med. Manfred Blobner2, Prof. Dr. med. Ulrich Frey3, Prof. Dr. Christian von Heymann4, Prof. Dr. med. Bettina Jungwirth1, Dr. med. Dragutin Popovic4, Prof. Dr. med. Michael Sander5.

1: Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

2: Technical University Munich, School of Medicine, Klinikum Rechts der Isar, Department of Anaesthesiology & Intensive Care Medicine, Munich, Germany

3: Department for Anesthesiology, Surgical Intensive Care, Pain and Palliative Medicine, Marien Hospital Herne – Universitätsklinikum der Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Herne, Germany

4: Department for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Vivantes Klinikum im Friedrichshain, Berlin, Germany

5: Department for Anaesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany