Novel Pulse Oximetry Sonifications for Neonatal Oxygen Saturation Monitoring
测试两种新型脉搏血氧仪声音化显示能否帮助非临床人员更准确判断新生儿血氧饱和度是否偏离目标范围（90%-95%），其中一种“信标”声音显著提高了判断准确率。
OBJECTIVE: We aimed to test whether the use of novel pulse oximetry sounds (sonifications) better informs listeners when a neonate's oxygen saturation (SpO2) deviates from the recommended range. BACKGROUND: Variable-pitch pulse oximeters do not accurately inform clinicians via sound alone when SpO2 is outside the target range of 90% to 95% for neonates on supplemental oxygen. Risk of blindness, organ damage, and death increase if SpO2 remains outside the target range. A more informative sonification may improve clinicians' ability to maintain the target range. METHOD: In two desktop experiments, nonclinicians' ability to detect SpO2 range and direction of change was tested with novel versus conventional sonifications of simulated patient data. In Experiment 1, a "shoulder" sonification used larger pitch differences between adjacent saturation percentages for SpO2 values outside the target range. In Experiment 2, a "beacon" sonification used equal-appearing pitch differences, but when SpO2 was outside the target range, a fixed-pitch reference tone from the center of the target SpO2 range preceded every fourth pulse tone. RESULTS: The beacon sonification improved range identification accuracy over the control display (85% vs. 60%; p < .001), but the shoulder sonification did not (55% vs. 52%). CONCLUSION: The beacon provided a distinct auditory alert and reference that significantly improved nonclinical participants' ability to identify SpO2 range. APPLICATION: Adding a beacon to the variable-pitch pulse oximeter sound may help clinicians identify when, and by how much, a neonate's SpO2 deviates from the target range, particularly during patient transport situations when auditory information becomes essential.