Press Release - Rainbow Trays improve anaesthetic medication visual search and mitigate cognitive load. University of Derby study.

Anaesthetic drugs are administered within a dynamic and challenging environment where distractions can impact the already considerable cognitive demand to increase the risk of medication error. A simple change in the use of syringe trays could help reduce errors in complex clinical environments.

A recent study conducted by University of Derby to investigate the efficacy of a standardised organisational tray for the presentation of anaesthetic drugs; the Rainbow Trays, found that colour coded compartmentalisation enhanced visual search efficacy, indicated a reduction in cognitive load and was associated with significant performance improvements over conventional trays. The results have been published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

Utilising Eye Tracking glasses, experimental psychology methods were used to explore the potential benefits of colour coded and compartmentalised trays compared with conventional trays in a visual search. The responses of 40 volunteers were measured using eye tracking metrics, eye movements and responses evidenced improved fixation counts and durations for Rainbow Trays and demonstrated cognitive load and visual search performance advantages over conventional trays when identifying medication errors. This was evidenced by both faster behavioural responses and faster processing of Rainbow Trays.

The team – Dr Edward Stupple, Professor Frances Maratos, Andrew Baird and Dr Victoria Laxton – conducted independent objective trials on the trays, supported by funding from the government’s innovation and research agency, Innovate UK.


Frances Maratos, Professor of Psychology and Affective Science at the University of Derby, explains:

“Our results are promising with respect to improving patient safety. For example, the organisation of colour-coded trays may facilitate secondary checks from theatre staff such as Operating Department Practitioners, as an additional safety layer, with the aim of preventing drug errors in high-pressured environments such as operating theatres.”


Bev Fawdington, Director of UVAMED, said:

“This study provides clear evidence that a standardised system such as Rainbow Trays can reduce cognitive load and the risk of medication error during administration. These results - delivered on a project conducted almost entirely during the Covid pandemic - illustrate the ingenuity, tenacity and dedication of the research team and NHS participants. They show that standardising the presentation of anaesthetic drugs can improve both clinicians’ wellbeing and patient outcomes.”


For further information, contact Bev Fawdington: info@uvamed.net