Not Right Now: Factors Affecting Interruption Decisions in a Healthcare Paradigm

Interruptions that occur during high-stakes tasks in healthcare increase the likelihood of adverse events. Research on interruption management strategies has addressed the outcomes of interruptions but not what influences the decision to accept or reject them. This study examined the effects of high and low levels of three moderators on the interruption decision-making process: priority, cost of the interruption, and method of interruption. Participants entered data in a simulated patient chart while monitoring simulated patient vital signs and were interrupted four times to perform other activities. Participants could either accept or reject each interruption. The results showed that high priority, low-cost, and face-to-face interruptions were more likely to be accepted. Thus, participants considered the nature of the interrupting task when deciding to suspend work on their current task. These results suggest that a better understanding of factors that affect interruption decisions can lay a foundation to help diminish their disruptiveness.