The effect of a secondary task on identification accuracy of oxygen saturation ranges using an enhanced pulse oximetry sonification

Abstract

In the operating theatre, anesthesiologists monitor an anesthetized patient's oxygen saturation (SpO 2) with a visual display but also with an auditory tone, or sonification. However, if the anesthesiologist must divide their attention across tasks, they may be less effective at recognising their patient's SpO 2. Previous research indicates that a sonification enhanced with additional sound dimensions of tremolo and brightness more effectively supports participants' identification of SpO 2 ranges than a conventional sonification does. This laboratory study explored the effect of a secondary task on participants' ability to identify SpO 2 range when using a conventional sonification (LogLinear sonification) versus an enhanced sonification (Stepped Effects sonification). Nineteen non-clinical participants who used the Stepped Effects sonification were significantly more effective at identifying SpO 2 range (100%) than participants using the LogLinear sonification (80%). Participants using the Stepped Effects sonification tended to be less disrupted by an arithmetic task (drop from 100% to 95%) than were 18 participants using the LogLinear sonification (drop from 80% to 73%). However, the disruption effect in each case was small, and the difference in disruption across sonifications was not statistically significant. Future research will test the sonifications under more intense cognitive load and ambient noise.

A Psychoacoustic Sound Design for Pulse Oximetry

“…Also the setting of the listening test differed from a clinical environment, especially as there was little background noise and participants could concentrate solely on listening to the SpO2 sonification. As for example an anesthesiologist has to divide his attention across different tasks, Paterson, Sanderson, Paterson, Liu and Loeb (2016) tested effects of a secondary task on identification of SpO2 ranges using an enhanced sonification of the pulse oximeter [27]. Performances for SpO2 range identification deteriorated more for a LogLinear sonification than for the enhanced sonification of the pulse oximeter, although the difference did not reach significance [27].…”

“…As for example an anesthesiologist has to divide his attention across different tasks, Paterson, Sanderson, Paterson, Liu and Loeb (2016) tested effects of a secondary task on identification of SpO2 ranges using an enhanced sonification of the pulse oximeter [27]. Performances for SpO2 range identification deteriorated more for a LogLinear sonification than for the enhanced sonification of the pulse oximeter, although the difference did not reach significance [27]. This way the applicability of an enhanced sonification of the pulse oximeter can be evaluated under more realistic conditions.…”