NW ICU Logbook -A spreadsheet-based, cloud-compatible, fully-editable logbok for all intensive care practitioners

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Logbooks are now ubiquitous in medical practice, aiding in provision of evidence of competency for training progression and revalidation processes. The Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) recommends all practitioners keep a logbook, but does not mandate a particular one. During COVID19, redeployment from other specialties into ICU has meant many training opportunities have been difficult to evidence.1,2 Logbooks provide an evidence base for documenting educational experiences, identifying opportunities and learning from good practice.3 Objectives: The NorthWest Intensive Care Unit Logbook (NW ICU Logbook) provides a digital, spread-sheet based, easy-to-use, mobile-compatible personal logbook for ICU practitioners of all grades. Originally created for personal use, it has been made available for free for all. We used analytical software to track its use and spread so as to better understand the desire for such logbooks. Methods: Google Analytics were built into the logbook download website to track views and downloads. Data is collected anonymously and provides evidence of its appeal. Extrapolation of its spread suggests an increased focused on governance within global ICM. Prospective, real-time data is continuously collected regarding website traffic, number of downloads, geographical and device data. This provides a rich source of anonymised data to better understand the use of a product. Already, many businesses use such software, but this method is still relatively new within medicine. Results: The logbook has been downloaded over 3000 times from over 30 countries. Although interest is heavily centred in the UK, hotspots of downloads have also occurred in India, Egypt and Middle East. This is likely due to existing links and partnerships between hospitals. The logbook has been responsive to change, and several versions have been created based on feedback from users. The global appeal suggests an increased focus on educational governance and therefore presents many opportunities for further data collection and understanding of educational capacity and quality. Furthermore, expansion of the dataset may enable better understanding of human resources for health, caseload and global critical care trends. Conclusion: There continues to be an interest for an easyto-use and fit-for-purpose logbook for ICU practitioners. This logbook may form a template for further development. For example, an app would allow anonymised big data to be collected which can provide an evidence-base for regional variation in educational opportunities and achievements. Also, the global interest already shown may allow anonymised data which can add to evidence regarding human resources for health in low resource settings, further contributing to the understanding and advancing larger global health agendas within acute and emergency care.4 This provides a powerful opportunity for organisations to collect data for further research.