Digital Alerts for Sepsis: a Qualitative Study

Sepsis is a serious disease, most often caused by a bacterial infection, and can be treated with antibiotics. Identifying patients with sepsis as early as possible means treatment with antibiotics can be started earlier. To identify patients who may have sepsis, measurements such as high or low temperature and fast breathing rate are used to create a score showing the possibility of sepsis. Electronic Health Records (EHR) in hospitals contain the information needed to create a score and can alert a doctor or nurse that a patient may have sepsis. Research has shown that more patients get antibiotics earlier because of hospitals using this type of digital alert. Different hospitals have used different methods to create a score and use different types of digital alerts. This research wants to find out what hospital doctors and nurses think about digital alerts for sepsis and how they use them. The investigators also want to find out what patients who have had sepsis think about hospitals using these digital alerts. Understanding how these digital alerts are used and how they affect patient care can help see how they could be used better so patients can benefit.

Inclusion Criteria:Healthcare ProfessionalsParticipant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.Any gender aged 18 years or above (no upper age limit).Fluent in English (or able to participate in an interview with other measures in place, e.g. interpreter).Currently working as a healthcare professional (e.g. doctor, nurse) in an NHS hospital trust.Patients and Family MemberParticipant is willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study.Any gender aged 18 years or above (no upper age limit).Fluent in English (or able to participate in an interview with other measures in place, e.g. interpreter).Member of the public who has previously been diagnosed with sepsis and treated in hospital or family member/carer of someone who has previously had sepsis.Exclusion Criteria:The participant may not enter the study if ANY of the following apply:Healthcare professional has less than 3 months experience working in relevant role. This is estimated to be a reasonable amount of time for them to have good experience of identifying patients with sepsis and/or using sepsis alert systems.