Nursing Physical Workload and Mental Workload in Intensive Care Units: Are They Related? Publisher Pubmed



Nasirizad Moghadam K¹ ; Chehrzad MM² ; Reza Masouleh S³ ; Maleki M⁴ ; Mardani A⁵ ; Atharyan S⁶ ; Harding C⁷
Source: Nursing Open Published:2021

Abstract

Aim: In order to ensure patient safety and quality of care, it is important to consider factors which may impact on nursing workloads. This study aimed to investigate the simultaneous physical and mental workload and any relationships between these concepts on nurses working in intensive care units. Design: A cross-sectional design was undertaken. Method: Participants were nurses (N = 105) recruited from six adult intensive care units which met the inclusion criteria. Nursing Activities Score (NAS) to measure physical workload and NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) to measure mental workload were used. Data were collected for each participating nurse in three shifts (morning, evening and night). Data were analysed using bivariate correlation and multivariable linear regression analysis. Results: The mean (SD) of nurses' physical and mental workload was 72.84% (22.07%) and 70.21 (12.36), respectively. A significant relationship between physical and mental workload (p <.001) was identified. © 2021 The Authors. Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.