Perceptions Of Workload Research Articles

Association Between Perceived Workload and Adverse Body Posture

Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders (WMSDs) can be a result of complex interactions between physical, psychosocial, biological, and individual characteristics. However, the evidence on specific associations is still inconclusive. A previous study conducted at a Sterile Processing Department (SPD) in a local hospital established an association between perceived job demands and adverse body postures. However, causal inferences were not possible to establish given the study design. Consequently, the objective of this study was to determine if perception of mental workload causes workers to use more risky body postures. Objective and subjective assessment tools (REBA and NASA-TLX scores) were used as indicators of body postures and mental workload. The findings indicated that there is a positive relationship between the perception of workload (NASA-TLX scores) and adverse body postures (REBA scores) suggesting that people tend to adopt more awkward postures when they feel they are in a rush condition or they have more things to do

Motion Fidelity Requirements for Helicopter-Ship Operations in Maritime Rotorcraft Flight Simulators

The research presented in this paper is part of a longer-term project to develop overall fidelity requirements for simulated helicopter shipboard operations to inform and support first-of-class flight trials. The paper reports the results of motion cueing assessment and optimization research, conducted in a six-degree-of-freedom motion flight simulator, to develop simulator motion drive laws capable of providing high-fidelity motion cueing for simulated shipboard operations. To do this, a novel objective technique, vestibular motion perception error (VMPE), has been developed. The technique was used to optimize the motion cues for simulated helicopter landings on a naval single-spot destroyer at different wind and sea-state conditions. New simulator motion tuning sets were derived offline and then tested experimentally to compare the objective VMPE predictions with subjective assessments from a test pilot. Results show the influence of different motion cues, airwake conditions, and ship motion states on the pilot’s overall perception of self-motion, control strategy, task performance, and workload. It was found that high-fidelity motion cueing becomes more desirable for the pilot at higher wind conditions and sea states, for which an “Optimized” motion setting was obtained using the new technique. Moreover, the use of an “Optimized” motion setting generated by the VMPE methodology resulted in reduced pilot workload, leading to improved simulated maritime helicopter operational capability. The technique provides a rational methodology for motion tuning, which could be applied in training and engineering simulators.

Assessing Engagement during Rescue Operation Simulated in Virtual Reality: A Psychophysiological Study

ABSTRACTThe goal of this study was to investigate the patterns of engagement among professional firefighters during a rescue operation challenge simulated in a virtual reality (VR). The simulator offers a training that would otherwise be impossible or very difficult to arrange in the real world, here a mass-casualty incident. We measured engagement with cardiovascular reactivity as well as subjective perceptions of workload. We found that both a VR rescue challenge and a VR control condition lead to engagement evident in the decrease in parasympathetic activation from baseline (measured as high-frequency heart rate variability). However, the rescue operation leads to a stronger increase in sympathetic activity (shorter pre-ejection period and RZ-interval) than the control condition. Furthermore, the subjective workload ratings corroborate the results from the objective engagement indices. These results demonstrate that it is possible to create a virtual environment that elicits engagement among professional rescuers.

Carga mental de trabajo en enfermeras/os de unidades de paciente crítico: estudio piloto

Objetivo: determinar la percepción de carga mental de trabajo en los enfermeros/as de una unidad de pacientes críticos de un Hospital Regional en Chile. Material y método: estudio con diseño descriptivo, trasversal y exploratorio. Se censó a 10 enfermeras/os que se desempeñan en un turno de la Unidad de Pacientes Críticos de un Hospital Regional de Chile. Para recopilar los datos se utilizaron dos instrumentos: Escala Subjetiva de Carga Mental de Trabajo y Antecedentes biopsicosociodemográficos. Para la realización de este estudio se consideraron los requisitos éticos de E. Emanuel. Resultados: en promedio 3,8 (D.E= 0.66) los trabajadores/as de la UPC participante de este estudio, perciben sobrecarga mental al realizar su trabajo. Conclusión: la sobrecarga mental de trabajo, pudiera generar consecuencias en su salud física y mental de los enfermeros/as participantes, por lo que es prioritario tomar medidas tendientes a mantener una carga mental adecuada.

A survey of critical care pharmacists to patient ratios and practice characteristics in intensive care units

AbstractIntroductionPharmacists are widely recognized members of the critical care health care team. However, unlike other health care professions, critical care pharmacists do not have standardized pharmacist to patient ratios that establish maximal cost‐efficiency while maintaining optimal patient safety. Though many prior recommendations claim a ratio of 1:15 for safe pharmacy practice, recommendations have ranged as low as 1:8 to as high as 1:30.ObjectivesTo determine critical care pharmacists' perceptions of pharmacist to patient ratios within the intensive care unit (ICU) and qualitatively and quantitatively describe critical care pharmacist work environments.MethodsA cross‐sectional survey of pharmacists was conducted to identify current pharmacist to patient ratios and identify pharmacist perceptions of the safety of these ratios. Responses were presented using descriptive statistics. Multiple linear regression was conducted to determine factors associated with perceptions of workload and patient safety.ResultsThe response rate was 11% (n = 185). The majority of respondents reported participating in activities beyond patient care. The majority of pharmacists cared for more than 15 patients daily (n = 155, 84%), and 16% took care of 15 or fewer patients. About 30% of pharmacists did not feel the pharmacist to patient ratio optimized patient safety, and over half reported perceptions overwork. A majority of participants (n = 130, 76%) expressed a need for additional critical care pharmacists at their institutions. Higher pharmacist to patient ratios were associated with increased perception of unsafe patient care −.343 (−.507 to −.180, P < .001).ConclusionsHeterogeneity exists among critical care pharmacy activities that may influence pharmacists' perceptions of workload and patient safety. Critical care pharmacists report that their institutions should have more critical care pharmacists. Pharmacists' perceptions of workload vary based on differences in their activities outside of patient care.

Medical workforce review using the RCP guidance on safe medical staffing demonstrating wide variation of workload to workforce ratio between medical teams within a single trust.

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published guidance on safe medical staffing in 2018.1 Its recommendations were derived by estimating the workload generated by each clinical activity. In our trust, there is a perception of a high junior doctor workload and an imbalance of workload between teams, which can compromise patient safety, work efficiency and training quality. Acting on this, we aim to: Twenty medical teams across Brighton and Sussex University Healthcare Trust …

The impact of perceived workload on nurse satisfaction with work-life balance and intention to leave the occupation

Background and aimIn the drive to make the health sector more economically efficient and effective, what is potentially being lost is the need to look after the well-being of those who work within this profession. Nurses are the largest group in the health sector workforce and the frontline of patient care. Workload perceptions are known to be impacting nurses' well-being and are becoming a critical concern for the retention of this workforce. In response, this study aims to examine the relationships among perceived workload, satisfaction with work-life balance (an indicator of well-being), and intention to leave the occupation. Additionally, high involvement work practices (HIWPs) are examined as a form of organisational support that may buffer the negative impact of perceived workload on nurses' well-being and intention to leave the occupation. MethodA 2016 online survey of the nursing profession in Australia yielded 2984 responses. We assessed the impact of perceived workload on nurses' well-being and intention to leave the occupation, and the role of HIWPs in ameliorating the negative impact of perceived workload. Results and conclusionOur results show that perceived workload is associated with increasing intention to leave the occupation and is mediated by nurses' satisfaction with work-life balance. Where organisational support is provided through HIWPs, this can mitigate such intentions. These aspects are within the control of those who manage this workforce and should be central to human resource management strategies in the health care sector.

An expert’s mind in action: Assessing attentional focus, workload and performance in a dynamic, naturalistic environment

ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to (1) to explore attentional strategies in expert judo players and (2) investigate how attentional focus affects performance effectiveness and perceptions of workload in expert judo players during real competitions. Fourteen expert male judo players participated in the study. A simulated recall method was used following participants’ competition to explore contents of attention qualitatively. The data analysis process for the qualitative portion of the study was an iterative process between inductive and deductive analyses. Quantitative analyses of performance outcomes and workload were then associated with the qualitative findings. Qualitative results revealed that the focus of attention was dynamic and complex, with technical aspects of the movements as the highest identified focus. Quantitative analyses revealed that reporting a lower quantity of attentional cues and higher percentage of focus on opponent resulted in higher performance effectiveness and less perceptions of workload. This study indicates that cognitive control and automaticity may work in a synergistic manner for successful skill execution in expert performance.

Medical workforce review using the RCP guidance on safe medical staffing demonstrating wide variation of workload to workforce ratio between medical teams within a single trust

The Royal College of Physicians (RCP) published guidance on safe medical staffing in 2018.1 Its recommendations were derived by estimating the workload generated by each clinical activity. In our trust, there is a perception of a high junior doctor workload and an imbalance of workload between teams, which can compromise patient safety, work efficiency and training quality. Acting on this, we aim to: Twenty medical teams across Brighton and Sussex University Healthcare Trust …

Self-reported modifying effects of resilience factors on perceptions of workload, patient outcomes, and burnout in physician-attendees of an international emergency medicine conference

ABSTRACTEmergency medicine has one of the highest rates of burnout of all medical specialties. Recent research has identified putative sources of burnout in emergency medicine, including stress of overnight shifts, psychological demands of handling emergency patients, and perceived poor departmental support systems. This burnout is detrimental to the quality of patient care, and thus represents an important target to simultaneously improve both physician wellness and patient outcomes. We lack consensus on the best way to combat the impacts of physician burnout in part, because we do not know the protective factors that best enable individuals to manage their burnout and be resilient to its impacts on their patient care.The goal of this study was to identify the resilience factors that have the greatest influence on the relationship between physician burnout symptoms and perceptions of workload impact on patient outcomes. We conducted a cross-sectional web-based anonymous survey of full-time attending emergency medicine physicians and measured self-reported responses about perceived impacts of workload on patient care and symptoms of burnout. Additionally, we measured resilience factor-related items (such as shift length/type, spirituality, home life, etc.), stratified the responses by level of agreement with the statements, and assessed how each impacted the relationship between burnout domains and perceived workload/patient outcomes.The level of agreement with five resilience factor statements influenced the magnitude of correlation between workload’s effects on patient outcomes and burnout. These factors included personal spirituality, utility of mindfulness techniques, sleep quality, perceptions of home life, and the presence of institutional debriefing procedures.This work identified five resilience factors that may enable emergency medicine physicians to mitigate the impact of their burnout on their work and patient care. Promoting these resilience factors represent targets for institutional-level interventions to improve both physician wellness and patient outcomes.

Live to Work or Work to Live? An Age-Moderated Mediation Model on the Simultaneous Mechanisms Prompted by Workaholism Among Healthcare Professionals.

The “aging population” implies an increased proportion of older professionals and a growing demand for healthcare services. Healthcare professionals are often highly committed to their work which can be reflected in high levels of workaholism, being a double-edged sword that can prompt both positive and negative mechanisms, differently affecting younger and older healthcare workers. The present study aims to gain insights into the relationships between healthcare professionals' age, workaholism and job satisfaction, by estimating the sequential mediating roles of workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. We used original survey data, including information on 750 healthcare professionals. Overall, the negative relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction was shown to be sequentially (and partially) mediated by workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. Multi-Group SEM analyses revealed differences across three age groups (under 35; between 35 and 50; over 50). Only in the two younger age groups, we found a direct and positive relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction. In all age groups, we found the negative relationship between workaholism and job satisfaction to be sequentially (and partially) mediated by workload perceptions and emotional exhaustion. The indirect effects were relatively stronger in the younger age group. Workaholism can prompt both a “gain spiral” and “a loss spiral” among healthcare professionals. The first reflects workaholism to function as a job resource fostering job satisfaction (only for the two younger age groups). The second reflects workaholism to function as a job demand reducing job satisfaction. This mechanism was shown to be stronger with an increasing age.

Monitoring the Curriculum through the Student Perspective.

Student input was deliberately included as part of the curriculum implementation and assessment plan at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. The new curriculum included design features to encourage deeper learning such as a spiral curriculum with cross-course integration, increased open time, and more active learning. Student well-being was seen as a simultaneous need. To gather overall perceptions of workload and well-being, student volunteers from each cohort were surveyed weekly starting in 2013. Survey questions asked about out-of-class work time, level of integration, extracurricular activities, student well-being habits, paid employment, and other factors. Survey questions were combined with course data to get a full picture of week quality, total course work time, extracurricular activities, and the effects of integration. Many of our hypotheses about curricular and extracurricular impacts on week quality were disproven. Week quality was most positively affected by student factors of sleep and exercise, whereas the curricular factors of out-of-class work time, total course work time, and examination hours had the strongest negative effects. A surprising finding was that open time, in-class hours, and paid employment hours had a minimal effect on week quality. Students identified excessively heavy semesters and uneven semester workloads that resulted in early revisions to the new curriculum. Student feedback provided a view of the curriculum that was not otherwise available and resulted in early and significant impacts on the new curriculum, and they provided insight into whether planned changes had occurred and how effective various factors were in reaching the curricular goals.

Comparisons of Stress Physiology of Providers in Real-Life Resuscitations and Virtual Reality-Simulated Resuscitations.

Virtual reality (VR) is a promising simulation medium for high-stakes, low-frequency events such as pediatric resuscitation. The psychological fidelity of VR compared with a real resuscitation in an emergency department (ED) is relatively unknown. The objective was to determine whether stress physiology changes were equivalent between ED and VR resuscitations. This was a single-site pilot equivalence study evaluating head-mounted VR resuscitation scenarios using board-certified/eligible pediatric ED physicians. Subjects had heart rates (HRs) and salivary cortisol levels recorded throughout 8-hour evening ED shifts and during one 1-hour VR session. Additional samples and subjective workload perception (NASA Task Load Index) were collected for critical resuscitations. A delta HR and delta cortisol level described the difference in mean HR and mean cortisol level between shifts with and shifts without resuscitations. Another delta calculation was performed from pre-VR to post-VR. Nonparametric univariate statistics was examined for significant differences in delta HR or cortisol levels between the ED setting and VR. Sixteen subjects had 69 shifts monitored with 31 resuscitations. In the ED, delta HR was +13.9 bpm (P < 0.001) and delta cortisol was +0.10 μg/dL (P = 0.006). In VR, delta HR was +6.5 bpm (P < 0.001) but minimal delta cortisol (-0.02 μg/dL, P = 0.05). Emergency department resuscitations both HR and cortisol levels were more than VR resuscitations (P < 0.03). NASA Task Load Index scores were higher in VR resuscitations with +26 score difference (P = 0.01). Virtual reality resuscitations increase HR but show less stress physiology changes than ED resuscitations within an actual 8-hour shift. Further inquiry into stress physiology and optimal VR simulation is warranted.

ESTIMATING FACULTY AND STUDENT WORKLOAD FOR INTERACTION IN ONLINE GRADUATE MUSIC COURSES

Research suggests that faculty perceive greater workload for online teaching. These perceptions have little quantitative support. This study utilized seven online graduate courses, over a three year period to estimate faculty and student workload for interaction via online discussions and electronic mail using average reading and typing speeds. Weekly faculty workload estimates for interaction did not exceed normal expectations for faculty “office hours” for six of the seven courses. Perceptions of excessive workload for communication may be better explained by the dynamics of online interaction found in this study. Online students attempted to contact their instructors, twenty-four hours per day, seven days per week, at least every fourteen hours. Further research is needed to establish the time needed for FTF teaching interaction and to validate actual typing and reading speeds for more accurate estimates of the time needed for online course interaction.

Buffering Against Sources Of Academic Stress: The Influence of Supportive Informational and Emotional Communication on Psychological Well-Being

This study examined college students’ psychological well-being as a function of both sources of academic stress and supportive communication. A total of 129 students completed measures assessing four sources of academic stress (i.e., pressures to perform, perceptions of workload, academic self-perceptions, and time restraints), psychological well-being, and two types of received supportive communication (i.e., informational and emotional). Pressures to perform, perceptions of workload, and time restraints were negatively associated with psychological well-being. In addition, the negative relationship between perceptions of workload and psychological well-being was strengthened when supportive informational communication and supportive emotional communication were individually and jointly low. Finally, the positive relationship between academic self-perceptions and psychological well-being was only significant when supportive informational communication was high.

Effective workload management in child welfare: Understanding the relationship between caseload and workload

AbstractA common assumption in public social service organizations is that workload may be positively associated with caseload. However, few empirical studies have examined what specific characteristics of caseload affect caseworkers' workloads in the child welfare system. This study attempts to address this gap by identifying specific individual and regional factors that influence both subjective and objective dimensions of workloads. Survey data were collected from 1,244 caseworkers at one public child welfare agency in a Midwestern state in the United States. The data indicated that both perceptions of unmanageable workloads and self‐reported overtime work were significantly higher when caseworkers had a greater number of cases than the state caseload standard for the investigations units and worked with at least two different types of cases simultaneously (e.g., working with both investigation and ongoing service cases). Additionally, sufficient staffing numbers to meet caseload demands at the regional level significantly decreased the odds ratio of having to do overtime work. The major findings suggest that the objective and subjective dimensions of workload vary by individual‐ and regional‐level variables. Practice implications are discussed for effective and efficient workload management in the public child welfare system.

Initial Development and Validation of the Perceptions of the Blended Learning Environment Questionnaire

Learning in blended environments has become a ubiquitous part of student experience in tertiary education worldwide. Although students’ perceptions of learning environments are a key element in the learning process, there is a dearth of valid instruments to assess students’ perceptions in blended contexts. This study described the initial development and validation of a Perceptions of the Blended Learning Environment Questionnaire (PBLEQ). The analyses, involving two cohorts of students enrolled in courses either from humanities/social sciences disciplines or from sciences/engineering disciplines, consistently supported the bifactor model over a correlated first-order model and a second-order model. The bifactor model had a single perceptions factor that underlined each of the items. Separately, there were three specific factors: the perceptions of integration between face-to-face and online learning, the perceptions of online contributions, and the perceptions of the online workload, each having its own separate set of items. The invariance tests among the two cohorts validated that the PBLEQ had invariant factor structure, factor loadings, and intercepts. The PBLEQ has potential to help unravel students’ perceptions of the blended learning environment in diverse academic disciplines.

Workload Perception of Air Traffic Control Officers and Pilots During Continuous Descent Operations Approach Procedures

Abstract. The paper examines the workload perceived by air traffic control officers (ATCOs) and pilots during continuous descent operations (CDOs), applying closed- and open-path procedures. CDOs reduce fuel consumption and noise emissions. Therefore, they are supported by airports as well as airlines. However, their use often depends on pilots asking for CDOs and controllers giving approval and directions. An adapted NASA Total Load Index (TLX) was used to measure the workload perception of ATCOs and pilots when applying CDOs at selected European airports. The main finding is that ATCOs’ workload increased when giving both closed- and open-path CDOs, which may have a negative impact on their willingness to apply CDOs. The main problem reported by pilots was insufficient distance-to-go information provided by ATCOs. The workload change is important when considering the use of CDOs.

NASA-TLX for predictability and measurability of instructional design models: case study in design methods

Innovation projects has established as an emerging field of research, a number of issues have emerged; among the others, measurability and predictability of product development. Moreover, whilst great relevance has been given to aspects such as innovation factors, product results, cognitive knowledge, poor attention has been given to other fundamental factors: product development process and effectiveness of design process as a consequence of complex problem situation. A formalization in affordances of design process may help overcome said issues and enhance product effectiveness, by identifying and highlighting potential designers’ workload perception during the Product Development Process. In this scenario, this paper describes an approach for continuously monitoring and measuring the complexity of design process during the creation of a new product. After an overview of the related work, this study proposes a common instructional design model for Product Development Process, which was split in order to be measured by using NASA-TLX. This research propose that the use of NASA-TLX to predict and measure the designer workload during the design process contributes to a better understanding of the relationships among the different design phases and designer workload. After having shown a case study, a discussion about the possible developments, as well as the limitations of the proposed method, concludes this work.

A Qualitative Study on the Perceptions of Administrators and Teachers on Procrastination Behavior and Workload of School Administrators

In the research, a total of 12 school administrators and 18 teachers working in six different schools including three primary schools and three secondary schools were interviewed by using "case study" of qualitative research techniques in order to get in-depth knowledge about school administrators and teachers' perceptions of postponement behaviors and workloads. When the managers and teachers to be interviewed were determined, the maximum diversity sampling method which is one of the purpose sampling methods was used. The qualitative data obtained in the research were collected by using semi-structured manager and teacher interview forms that prepared by the researcher. Within the scope of the research, in the context of the qualitative findings obtained from interviews with school administrators; all of the interviewed school administrators (f = 12) stated that they did not postpone the work related to students, staff and education in the school, but they pointed out that sometimes there could be delayed situations. A large number of interviewed teachers (f = 13) indicated that the managers postpone many jobs in the school. In this context, internalization of managers, not only external sanctions, but also effective time management and internal supervision skills can be improved. In this context, internalization of managers, not just external sanctions, but effective time management and internal audit skills can be improved.