Towards improving shift leaders' information management in intensive care units: developing and testing a model for a management information system

Intensive care unit (ICU) shift leaders expend much effort to seek important information as it is scattered and must be collected manually. The aims of this study were: 1) to explore ICU shift leaders' information management; 2) to test a model of a management information system, which was developed based on the shift leaders' needs. Data were collected with a survey (n = 20) and interviews (n = 15) to explore the shift leaders' information needs and the sources of important information. Based on these findings, a model for a management information system was developed and tested with six informants. Data were collected in Finland and in New Zealand. The findings showed that the shift leaders wanted an information system that can be used as a tool which provides a real-time overview of the unit's situation and available resources, and which can be used for planning, resource allocation and communicating information.