The Digital Call to Action: Exploring the Nurses’ and Clinicians’ Lived Experiences with Sepsis Alert Systems in Pediatric Settings

This study explored healthcare professionals’ experiences and perceptions of sepsis alert systems and their influence on clinical decision-making and patient outcomes in pediatric care. A qualitative study was conducted in a local hospital in Qatar. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and non-participant observations involving nurses and clinicians working in pediatric settings. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns and themes related to the use of sepsis alert systems in clinical practice. Five major themes emerged: clinical decision support and early intervention; influence on clinical decision-making and workflow; challenges in managing sepsis alerts; perceived effectiveness on patient outcomes; and recommendations for system improvement. Participants viewed the sepsis alert system as a valuable tool for enhancing early sepsis recognition, supporting timely interventions, and improving the prioritization of high-risk pediatric patients. The system also strengthened communication, teamwork, and coordination among healthcare professionals. However, challenges such as alert fatigue, false-positive alerts, workflow disruptions, and technical limitations affected system reliability and increased reliance on clinical judgment. Despite these challenges, participants reported that the system contributed to earlier detection, faster treatment, reduced disease severity, and shorter hospital stays. The study was conducted in a single pediatric healthcare setting, which may limit the transferability of findings. Future research should examine sepsis alert systems across multiple institutions and evaluate their impact on patient outcomes using mixed-methods approaches. Continuous system refinement, enhanced staff training, and improved workflow integration are recommended to optimize system performance and support high-quality pediatric care. This study provides context-specific insights into healthcare professionals’ experiences with pediatric sepsis alert systems in Qatar, informing future improvements in digital clinical decision-support technologies.