Interaction of Physical and Mental Strain for Surgeons and Nurses in Operating Theatre in Latvia

Abstract: Health care is one of the leading sectors of the national economy in Latvia, where employees according to the official statistics make up 6.7% of all employees in the country. In 2022. Today, physical load and stress at work are an integral part of everyday life in various professions. It places a heavy burden on workers` mental and physical abilities. Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD`s) are the most common causes of occupational diseases, injuries, and disabilities for various professions, including staff in the operating block. When cognitive demands increase and are not balanced with employees' abilities, employees' health suffers (Bakker & Demerouti, 2007; Johnson & Hall, 1988; Karasek, 1979). The aim of this study was to investigate the interaction of physical and mental strain for surgeons and nurses in operating theater.Methods and materials. The research was performed at one of the hospitals in Latvia. Altogether participated 8 operating surgeons (7 males, 1 female) and 10 surgery nurses (2 males, 8 females). Interaction of mental and physical load was determined using subjective and multidimensional assessment tool: The NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) (Hart, 2006). This method is a multidimensional rating system for assessment of general or total workload based on results of the six sub scales: mental demands, physical demands, temporary demands, task performance, effort and frustration. Psychosocial aspects were considered when assessing mental strain, including working hours, work content, work team interrelations.ResultsThe results of NASA-TLX analysis show that highest degree of total workload considering mental and physical load interaction was identified for physicians  surgeons (75 points). Surgeons have a very high responsibility on the executable work, and they have been involved in responsible decision making, for example, saving the patient's life. Physical demands of the surgeons are mainly based in connection with postural load (prolonged standing on legs, forced working postures) and repetitive hand-arm movements. As work of surgery nurses is characterized with prolonged standing on legs and compulsive posture, load on upper limbs, the NASA-TLX analysis shows that physical load of surgery nurses is evaluated up to 78 points, but temporal load indicator for surgery nurses resulted in 83 points (highest degree), work performance conforms to 80 points, which indicates a high level of responsibility. Conclusion The interaction of a mental and physical load using NASA-TLX method allowed to estimate the total workload and compare the significance in percent (or weight scores) of different demands (stress at work, an effort, frustration, quality of performance, a.o.). The physical workload is higher for surgery nurses than for operating surgeons, as according to the NASA-TLX analysis psycho-emotional workload (responsibility for the patient's life, time pressure, decision making) is higher than physical workload for operating surgeons. Physical workload (frequent arm movements, standing, lifting and carrying) for surgery nurses significantly influences their total workload.Acknowledgment: This research has been supported by the project “Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders and Psychosocial Risks for Operating Room Health Care Staff”, Agreement No. LU-BA-PA-2024/1-0044, UL registration No. ESS2024/465.

Keywords: Surgeons, Nurses, Operating Theatre, Workload, Physical, Mental

DOI: 10.54941/ahfe1006596

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