Showing 6 results for Mental Workload
Arsalan Yousef Zade, Adel Mazloumi, Milad Abbasi, Arash Akbar Zade ,
Volume 6, Issue 2 (6-2016)
Abstract
Introduction: High level of workload and its consequent cognitive failures are among factors which impact nurses’ behavior, performance, and efficiency. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between nurses’ cognitive failures and perceived workload.
Material and Method: This cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study was carried out among 150 male and female nurses, working in different units of Emam Khomeini and Vali-e-Asr hospitals in Tehran in 2013. NASA task load index (NASA-TlX) and Cognitive Failure Questionnaire (CFQ) were used to assess workload and cognitive failures, respectively. Data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation, Independent sample t-test, and one-way ANOVA statistical tests with SPSS software version 20.
Result: Pearson and Spearman correlation coefficients test results showed a significant relationship between nurses’ mental workload and their memory for names (P-value<0.001). Moreover, there was significant association between physical workload and memory, attention and total cognitive failures (CFQ total) (P-value<0.05). Perceived frustration mong nurses was significantly correlated with memory, attention, motor functions and total cognitive failures (P-value<0.05).
Conclusion: The results showed a high level of workload among study nurses. Furthermore, the relationships between some dimensions of mental workload and cognitive failures were confirmed, so that an increase in workload dimension can lead to more cognitive failures while doing task.
Mohammad-Javad Jafari, Narmin Hassanzadeh-Rangi, Yahya Khosravi, Soheila Khodakarim,
Volume 8, Issue 4 (12-2018)
Abstract
Introduction: Driving a train is one of the high demand job due to high vigilance task requiring the ability to long periods monitor surrounding environment and recognizing signals. The aim of this study was to assess train drivers’ mental workload using heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) indices.
Material and Method: An experimental design was conducted among 12 well-trained subjects to induce two different levels of mental demands in a metro simulator and to monitor mental workload levels while driving the train. The HR and HRV parameters were recorded and analysis using ECG signals.
Result: The HRV parameters including SDNNIX (p-value=0.01), RMSSD (p-value=0.00), %PNN50 (p-value=0.01), SDNN (p-value=0.07) and LF/HF Ratio (p-value=0.04) were significantly reduced in a normal operation task comparing to the abnormal one.
Conclusion: The HR and HRV (SDNN, SDNNIX, RMSSD, %PNN50 and LF/HF Ratio) were found to be sensitive to mental workload in metro train driving .It is recommended to include the HRV parameters for mental workload assessment of train drivers.
Aysa Ghasemi Koozekonan, Vahid Ahmadi Moshiran, Mohsen Sadeghi Yarandi, Hamedeh Golmohammapour, Babak Sarbaz, Seyed Abolfazl Zakerian,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (9-2021)
Abstract
Introduction: One of the most important factors affecting quality of work-life (QWL) is the workload in the form of mental and physical. The increased workload may reduce the level of performance of workers. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the relation of the mental and physicalworkload with the QWLof workers in the foundry industry.
Material and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 218 male workers in a foundry industry and the work units with high work stress were selected. The NASA-TLX, physical load and the Walton questionnaires were used to collect and evaluate the workload and the QWL.The SPSS software was used for data analysis.
Results: It was clarified that there was a significant inverse relationship between QWL with physical load (P = 0.001) and mental workload (P = 0.01). The comparison of mean QWL between different groups of demographic variables showed that the only significant relationship was between different age groups and QWL (P = 0.003). Finally, it was found that the variables of physical load, mental workload and age had a significant simultaneous effect on the mean score of QWL (P<0.05).
Conclusion: The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between QWL and mental and physical workloads.
Tahereh Pourtalemi, Abdolhossein Emami Sigaroudi, Mahmoud Heidari, Nasrin Mokhtari Laleh, Ehsan Kazem Negzhad Leyli,
Volume 13, Issue 1 (3-2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Nurses are under the influence of stressful factors and high work pressure, which increases nursing errors. One factor affecting nurses’ behavior and performance is the mental workload and cognitive failures. This research has investigated the mental workload and cognitive failures in two groups of nurses with and without unsafe behaviors during the outbreak of Covid-19.
Material and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 312 nurses during the severe period of the Covid-19 outbreak through the public hospitals in Guilan province. Sampling was performed by selecting 104 nurses in the case group (with unsafe behavior) and 208 nurses in the control group (with safe behavior) using the full count method. The data collection tool is a three-part questionnaire including demographic information, the mental workload (NASA-TLX) questionnaire, and the occupational cognitive failures questionnaire. The incidence of needle stick as a consequence of unsafe behavior was used as a criterion.
Results: The results have shown that the workload in this research was 63.96±18.26, and the total score of cognitive failures was 59.1±13.9. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups of nurses with and without unsafe behaviors (P>0.05). Still, there was a significant correlation between the total mental workload score in all areas and the total score of cognitive failures in the group of nurses with and without unsafe behaviors (p=0.001, r=0.225).
Conclusion: According to the results, the perceived mental workload is high for the nursing job. Despite of positive correlation between mental workload and cognitive failures, it can be mentioned that there are two-way interactions through their dimensions. Therefore, the nursing job requires adopting optimal engineering and management strategies to reduce the workload.
Marzieh Izadi Laybidi , Adel Mazloumi , Jebraeil Nasl Saraji, Faramarz Gharagozlou, Amir Homayoun Jafari, Zahra Shirzhiyan, Kamal Azam ,
Volume 13, Issue 3 (9-2023)
Abstract
Introduction: Air traffic control is a very complex process, including multiple human-machine interactions. Human mental workload plays an important role in this process. Nowadays, electroencephalography indexes are considered as new indicators in the field of assessment of mental workload. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between EEG theta power and mental workload in air traffic control simulation.
Material and Methods: Fourteen air traffic controllers participated in this study. Controllers carried out two scenarios, including low and high workload, based on task load factors in an air traffic control simulator. Mental workload was assessed in these two scenarios by the NASA-TLX questionnaire. EEG signals were continuously recorded during air traffic control tasks. Afterward, absolute theta power was extracted from participants’ EEG using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) by the MATLAB software and was compared with each other in terms of high and low workload.
Results: The results showed a significant relationship in absolute theta power during low and high workload scenarios in all regions of the brain (p < 0.05). Absolute theta power increased primarily in the frontal region during the high workload scenario. Also, there was a significant increase in the relationship between work experience and absolute theta power at the F3 region during the high workload scenario (P=0.021, r=0.607).
Conclusion: Absolute theta power provides a good parameter to assess mental workload at different levels of air traffic control tasks. Therefore, it can be used as a tool for the design of human-machine complex systems.
Rohollah Fallah Madvari, Reyhaneh Sefidkar, Reza Raeisi, Gholamhossein Halvani, Reza Jafari Nodoushan,
Volume 14, Issue 2 (6-2024)
Abstract
Introduction: Considering the abundance and the large number of workers employed in micro and small industrial workshops in Iran and the importance of workers’ health, the present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of chronic fatigue in the relationship between mental workload and work ability with cognitive failure using path analysis.
Material and Methods: This study was conducted using a cross-sectional design on a sample of workers employed in micro and small industrial workshops in the city of Eghlid. Data were collected utilizing various measures, including demographic and occupational information questionnaires, the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), the Work Ability Index (WAI), and questionnaires for chronic fatigue and cognitive failure. The correlation test and path analysis modeling were used in SPSS (version 24) and AMOS softwares to investigate the relationship between variables.
Results: The mean scores of mental workload, work ability, chronic fatigue, and cognitive failure
were 69.63, 35.20, 15.58, and 53.30, respectively. The values of the goodness of fit indices lead to
the confirmation of the conceptual model by the research data. Also, based on the findings of the path analysis, the current research model has a good fit (CFI=1.00, GFI=0.998, NFI=0.999, AGFI=0.98 and RMSEA=0.003(0.00,0.169)).
Conclusion: The path analysis results indicate that chronic fatigue plays a significant mediating role
in the relationship between mental workload and work ability with cognitive failure. A better understanding of the mediating mechanisms and complex effects of these relationships can contribute to improving the management of chronic fatigue and enhancing cognitive performance in the workplace.
