Analysis of Visual Attention and Team Communications during Neonatal Endotracheal Intubations using Eye-tracking: An Observational Study.

PURPOSE: Eye-tracking can be used to analyse visual attention (VA) of health care providers during clinical tasks. No study has examined eye-tracking during neonatal endotracheal intubation. We aimed to examine VA and team communications during endotracheal intubation using eye-tracking in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

METHODS: Twenty-seven video-recordings were obtained using eye-tracking glasses worn by intubators during endotracheal intubation of stable neonates. Videos were analysed to obtain i) intubation duration and success, ii) areas of interest (AOIs), iii) duration spent on each AOI, iv) types and frequency of gaze-shifts between AOIs, and v) monitor looking behaviour, and vi) team communications of vital signs and verbal medication orders.

RESULTS: Twenty-four videos were of acceptable quality and analysed. Median attempt duration was 44.7sec. Success rate was 79%. Overall, 50% of VA was directed at the infant, with 23% of VA directed at equipment. There were 415 gaze-shifts types and 0.55 gaze-shifts/sec. Intubators glanced at the monitor spontaneously and rarely reported vital signs afterwards. Language used to communicate vital signs and medication orders varied.

CONCLUSION: During neonatal intubations, 50% of VA was directed away from the infant. Team communications were non-standard. Eye-tracking can be used to analyse human performance during neonatal resuscitation.