Facilitating Teamwork With Minimal Interaction via a Mesh-Based Communication Device in a Clinical Nursing Setting: Intervention Study.

BACKGROUND

The prevention of medical errors depends on effective communication and teamwork between nurses, yet traditional nurse call systems create inefficiencies that result in higher staff workloads. Further research is needed to evaluate how digital health care technologies affect nursing workflows and whether they contribute to staff workload.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate whether a smartphone app using Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Mesh-based signal communication could enhance nurse-to-nurse communication, decrease response times, and improve teamwork as measured by the TeamSTEPPS Teamwork Perceptions Questionnaire (T-TPQ).

METHODS

We conducted a between-subjects (independent groups) interventional study on an acute care ward, with 3 intervention days (BLE Mesh app use) and 3 nonintervention days administered on alternating days. Thirty nurses (15 per condition) participated, with no nurse contributing observations to both conditions in the final analysis. Response times were tracked, and the T-TPQ was used to evaluate Situation Monitoring and Mutual Support perceptions at the end of each shift.

RESULTS

The app shortened the total response duration from a per-nurse median of 38.5 (IQR 31.0-58.5) seconds in the control condition to 19.5 (IQR 18.5-23.5) seconds in the intervention condition (n=15 per condition; Mann-Whitney U test=217.5; P<.001; rank-biserial r=-0.93). The app reduced the time it took for staff to confirm nursing actions, search for items, and request care assistance. A total of 40 nurses participated, generating 48 questionnaire responses; after exclusions, 30 nurses (15 per condition) were analyzed. T-TPQ confirmed significant improvements in Situation Monitoring (3.04 vs 3.39; P=.001) and Mutual Support (3.01 vs 3.31; P=.003). Post hoc power ranged from 87% to 92% (Cohen d>1.0), supporting the interpretability of these results.

CONCLUSIONS

BLE Mesh technology reduces basic signal communication delays, which shortens nurse response times and enhances team performance through improved Situation Monitoring and Mutual Support, according to our research. The study demonstrates how this technology delivers functional benefits that enhance nursing communication to produce superior team-based care outcomes.