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.