Intraoperative Cognitive Load in Anesthesia Nurses Across Anesthetic Phases (ENCOPER)
perjantai 10. heinäkuuta 2026 päivittänyt: Víctor Caro, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
Carga Cognitiva Intraoperatoria Del Enfermero/a de Anestesia Según la Fase Del Acto Anestésico: Estudio Observacional Con NASA-TLX
The goal of this observational study is to measure the cognitive load (mental effort) of anesthesia nurses during real surgical procedures at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Spain. The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Does cognitive load vary across the three phases of anesthetic care (induction, maintenance, and emergence/recovery)?
- Is cognitive load higher during general anesthesia than during spinal anesthesia with sedation?
- How do surgical specialty and patient complexity relate to cognitive load?
- How does monitor alarm perception relate to cognitive load during surgery?
Participants (anesthesia nurses) will complete the NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) questionnaire - a validated 6-item tool measuring mental effort - three times per surgical case: after induction or spinal block, during maintenance, and after patient awakening or sedation reversal. They will also answer 4 brief questions about alarm management at the end of each case. No changes are made to clinical care. Participation adds approximately 11 minutes per surgical case.
Tutkimuksen yleiskatsaus
Tila
Rekrytointi
Ehdot
Interventio / Hoito
Yksityiskohtainen kuvaus
Anesthesia nurses manage up to 72 tasks per hour during surgical procedures, including vital sign monitoring, drug administration, airway management, alarm response, and surgical team coordination. Despite this high workload, the cognitive load of anesthesia nurses has received little scientific attention. Most studies focus on simulation rather than real clinical settings.
This prospective observational study uses the Raw NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) to quantify subjective cognitive load in anesthesia nurses across three phases of anesthetic care (T1: post-induction/spinal block; T2: maintenance; T3: extubation/wake up), comparing general anesthesia (endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask) versus spinal anesthesia with sedation. Additionally, an exploratory module examines nurses' perception and management of monitor alarms and its association with cognitive load.
This is the first European study to measure cognitive load in anesthesia nurses using a validated instrument in a real surgical setting.
Opintotyyppi
Havainnollistava
Ilmoittautuminen (Arvioitu)
50
Yhteystiedot ja paikat
Tässä osiossa on tutkimuksen suorittajien yhteystiedot ja tiedot siitä, missä tämä tutkimus suoritetaan.
Opiskeluyhteys
- Nimi: Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc
- Puhelinnumero: +34 633809919
- Sähköposti: vcaro@clinic.cat
Opiskelupaikat
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Catalonia
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Barcelona, Catalonia, Espanja, 08036
- Rekrytointi
- Hospital Clinic de Barcelona
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Ottaa yhteyttä:
- Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc
- Puhelinnumero: +34 633809919
- Sähköposti: vcaro@clinic.cat
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Päätutkija:
- Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc
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Alatutkija:
- Ariadna Munne Zafra, RN, MSc
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Alatutkija:
- Fernando Javier Dana Muzzio, RN, MSc, PhD(c)
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Alatutkija:
- Jessica Martinez de la Mata, RN, MSc
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Alatutkija:
- Carla Murias Verdugo, RN
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Osallistumiskriteerit
Tutkijat etsivät ihmisiä, jotka sopivat tiettyyn kuvaukseen, jota kutsutaan kelpoisuuskriteereiksi. Joitakin esimerkkejä näistä kriteereistä ovat henkilön yleinen terveydentila tai aiemmat hoidot.
Kelpoisuusvaatimukset
Opintokelpoiset iät
- Aikuinen
- Vanhempi Aikuinen
Hyväksyy terveitä vapaaehtoisia
Joo
Näytteenottomenetelmä
Ei-todennäköisyysnäyte
Tutkimusväestö
Registered nurse anesthetists actively working at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, a university tertiary care hospital, assigned to the following operating rooms: main surgical block, ambulatory surgery unit (CMA), interventional radiology suite (RIO), DIVAS intraoperative radiotherapy unit, and transplant operating room.
Kuvaus
Inclusion Criteria:
- Registered nurse anesthetist actively working at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona.
- Minimum 3 months in the current anesthesia nursing position.
- Voluntary participation with signed informed consent.
- Scheduled surgery (including deferred urgent surgery) or solid organ transplantation.
- General anesthesia (endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask airway) or spinal anesthesia with sedation.
- Minimum duration of 30 minutes.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Refusal to participate or withdrawal of informed consent.
- Spinal anesthesia without sedation.
- Exclusive regional anesthesia without sedation.
- Sedation alone without regional technique.
- Duration less than 30 minutes.
- Cases involving an unexpected intraoperative emergency requiring urgent additional personnel.
- Cases started under spinal anesthesia converted to general anesthesia for any clinical or technical reason.
Opintosuunnitelma
Tässä osiossa on tietoja tutkimussuunnitelmasta, mukaan lukien kuinka tutkimus on suunniteltu ja mitä tutkimuksella mitataan.
Miten tutkimus on suunniteltu?
Suunnittelun yksityiskohdat
Kohortit ja interventiot
Ryhmä/Kohortti |
Interventio / Hoito |
|---|---|
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General Anesthesia (GA)
Anesthesia nurses managing surgical cases under general anesthesia (endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask airway).
Cognitive load measured at three phases: post-induction (T1), maintenance (T2), and post-extubation (T3).
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The Raw NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is a validated self-report questionnaire measuring subjective cognitive load across six dimensions: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration (scale 0-100).
Administered three times per surgical case (T1, T2, T3) by the participating anesthesia nurse.
Additionally, four questions about monitor alarm perception and management are completed after T3.
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Spinal Anesthesia with Sedation
Anesthesia nurses managing surgical cases under spinal anesthesia combined with intravenous sedation.
Cognitive load measured at three phases: post-spinal block and sedation initiation (T1), maintenance (T2), and end of sedation (T3).
|
The Raw NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX) is a validated self-report questionnaire measuring subjective cognitive load across six dimensions: mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration (scale 0-100).
Administered three times per surgical case (T1, T2, T3) by the participating anesthesia nurse.
Additionally, four questions about monitor alarm perception and management are completed after T3.
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Mitä tutkimuksessa mitataan?
Ensisijaiset tulostoimenpiteet
Tulosmittaus |
Toimenpiteen kuvaus |
Aikaikkuna |
|---|---|---|
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Global Raw NASA-TLX Score
Aikaikkuna: At three time points per surgical case: T1 (5 minutes post-induction/spinal block), T2 (during maintenance, before surgical closure), and T3 (5 minutes after extubation/end of sedation ).
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Subjective cognitive load measured using the Raw NASA Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), calculated as the arithmetic mean of six subscales (mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration), each rated on a 0-100 scale.
Administered three times per surgical case: after induction or spinal block (T1), during maintenance (T2), and after extubation or end of sedation (T3).
Study duration: approximately 8 months.
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At three time points per surgical case: T1 (5 minutes post-induction/spinal block), T2 (during maintenance, before surgical closure), and T3 (5 minutes after extubation/end of sedation ).
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Toissijaiset tulostoimenpiteet
Tulosmittaus |
Toimenpiteen kuvaus |
Aikaikkuna |
|---|---|---|
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NASA-TLX Subscale Scores
Aikaikkuna: Assessed at three intraoperative time points per surgical case: 5 minutes post-induction or post-spinal block, during maintenance before surgical closure, and 5 minutes post-extubation or end of sedation, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Individual scores for each of the six NASA-TLX subscales (mental demand, physical demand, temporal demand, performance, effort, and frustration), each rated on a 0-100 scale, to identify which dimensions of cognitive load predominate at each anesthetic phase.
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Assessed at three intraoperative time points per surgical case: 5 minutes post-induction or post-spinal block, during maintenance before surgical closure, and 5 minutes post-extubation or end of sedation, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Monitor Alarm Perception Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Exploratory measure of nurses' perceived alarm burden during each surgical case, rated on a visual analog scale from 0 (not at all) to 100 (extremely).
Assessed after patient awakening or sedation reversal.
Used to explore the association between alarm perception and cognitive load (NASA-TLX score).
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Assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Muut tulostoimenpiteet
Tulosmittaus |
Toimenpiteen kuvaus |
Aikaikkuna |
|---|---|---|
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Alarm Management Behavior and Attention Interference During Intraoperative Care.
Aikaikkuna: Perioperative - assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Two exploratory Likert-scale items (1-5) completed after patient awakening or sedation reversal per surgical case: Item 1 (Alarm Evaluation Behavior): "Non-urgent alarms have been clinically evaluated before silencing or ignoring them" (1 = Never, 5 = Always). Assesses whether nurses evaluate alarms before acting on them. Item 2 (Alarm Interference with Attention): "Monitor alarms have interfered with my ability to pay attention to the patient during this case" (1 = Never, 5 = Always). Assesses the perceived impact of alarms on patient-focused attention. Both items are exploratory given the absence of a validated alarm fatigue instrument in Spanish. Results will be presented with descriptive statistics and Spearman correlations with NASA-TLX scores. |
Perioperative - assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Estimated Percentage of Non-Actionable Monitor Alarms (P1)
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Exploratory measure of nurses' perception of non-actionable monitor alarms per surgical case.
After patient awakening or sedation reversal, nurses estimate the percentage of alarms that did NOT require immediate clinical action, using four categories: less than 25%, 25-50%, 51-75%, or more than 75%.
Used to explore the association between alarm burden and cognitive load (NASA-TLX score).
Assessed given the absence of a validated alarm fatigue instrument in Spanish.
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Assessed once per surgical case, immediately after patient awakening or sedation reversal, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Patient Discharge Destination After Surgery
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, at the end of the procedure before patient transfer, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Categorization of the patient's discharge destination at the end of the surgical procedure, as recorded by the anesthesia nurse: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU/URPA), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Intermediate Care Unit, or General Ward (Hospitalization).
Used as a contextual variable to characterize case complexity and patient severity in relation to cognitive load.
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Assessed once per surgical case, at the end of the procedure before patient transfer, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Airway Status at Operating Room Discharge
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, immediately at the end of the procedure before patient transfer, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Categorization of the patient's airway management status at the end of the surgical procedure, as recorded by the anesthesia nurse.
Four categories: (1) Endotracheal intubation (ETT) - patient transferred intubated; (2) Extubated - no respiratory support; (3) Extubated with Venturi mask (VMK); (4) Extubated with non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV/VMNI).
Used as a contextual variable characterizing the clinical complexity of the emergence phase in relation to cognitive load.
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Assessed once per surgical case, immediately at the end of the procedure before patient transfer, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Patient Neurological Status at Operating Room Discharge
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, immediately at the end of the procedure before patient transfer. Only recorded for extubated patients, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Categorization of the patient's neurological and behavioral status at discharge from the operating room, as recorded by the anesthesia nurse.
Only assessed for extubated patients.
Four categories: (1) Awake and cooperative; (2) Awake and agitated; (3) Drowsy / Partial emergence; (4) No emergence / Unresponsive.
Used as a contextual variable characterizing the clinical complexity of the T3 phase in relation to cognitive load.
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Assessed once per surgical case, immediately at the end of the procedure before patient transfer. Only recorded for extubated patients, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Case Completeness Status
Aikaikkuna: Assessed once per surgical case, after data collection is complete for that case, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Operational classification of each surgical case data collection record, assessed by the investigator: (1) Complete - all three NASA-TLX phases (T1, T2, T3) and alarm management variables were collected; (2) Incomplete - one or more phases were not collected due to clinical circumstances but the case is included in partial analyses; (3) Drop-out - the case is excluded from all analyses, with the reason documented (e.g., intraoperative emergency, protocol deviation, participant withdrawal).
Used to track data quality and guide the missing data management strategy.
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Assessed once per surgical case, after data collection is complete for that case, over approximately 8 months of data collection.
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Yhteistyökumppanit ja tutkijat
Täältä löydät tähän tutkimukseen osallistuvat ihmiset ja organisaatiot.
Sponsori
Tutkijat
- Päätutkija: Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc, Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
Julkaisuja ja hyödyllisiä linkkejä
Tutkimusta koskevien tietojen syöttämisestä vastaava henkilö toimittaa nämä julkaisut vapaaehtoisesti. Nämä voivat koskea mitä tahansa tutkimukseen liittyvää.
Yleiset julkaisut
- Cvach M. Monitor alarm fatigue: an integrative review. Biomed Instrum Technol. 2012 Jul-Aug;46(4):268-77. doi: 10.2345/0899-8205-46.4.268.
- Joint Commission. Medical device alarm safety in hospitals. Sentinel Event Alert. 2013 Apr 8;(50):1-3. No abstract available.
- ECRI Institute; Top 10 Health Technology Hazards for 2022; ECRI Institute; 2021
- Hart SG, Staveland LE; Development of NASA-TLX (Task Load Index): results of empirical and theoretical research; Advances in Psychology; 1988; 52; 139-183
- Sweller J; Cognitive load during problem solving: effects on learning; Cognitive Science; 1988; 12(2); 257-285
- Wunderlich CA, Barnsteiner JH, Minnick A; Development of the Clinical Alarm Fatigue Questionnaire (CAFQa); J Nurs Scholarsh; 2021; 53(6); 681-690
- Kennedy-Metz LR, Lehane CM, Yule S, Dias RD, Zenati MA; Measuring cognitive load in the cardiac operating room; J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg; 2020; 160(6); 1621-1630
- Piquilloud L, Tassaux D, Bialais E, Lambermont B, Roeseler J, Sottiaux T, Demoule A, Jolliet P; The work of breathing influences the cognitive load of nurses and physiotherapists during non-invasive ventilation assistance of patients with acute respiratory failure; Intensive Care Med; 2020; 46(5); 983-991
- Wickens CD. Multiple resources and mental workload. Hum Factors. 2008 Jun;50(3):449-55. doi: 10.1518/001872008X288394.
- Carayon P, Gurses AP. A human factors engineering conceptual framework of nursing workload and patient safety in intensive care units. Intensive Crit Care Nurs. 2005 Oct;21(5):284-301. doi: 10.1016/j.iccn.2004.12.003. Epub 2005 Feb 24.
- Reason J. Human error: models and management. BMJ. 2000 Mar 18;320(7237):768-70. doi: 10.1136/bmj.320.7237.768. No abstract available.
- Olin K, Goras C, Nilsson U, Unbeck M, Ehrenberg A, Pukk-Harenstam K, Ekstedt M. Mapping registered nurse anaesthetists' intraoperative work: tasks, multitasking, interruptions and their causes, and interactions: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open. 2022 Jan 19;12(1):e052283. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052283.
- Goras C, Olin K, Unbeck M, Pukk-Harenstam K, Ehrenberg A, Tessma MK, Nilsson U, Ekstedt M. Tasks, multitasking and interruptions among the surgical team in an operating room: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open. 2019 May 15;9(5):e026410. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-026410.
Hyödyllisiä linkkejä
Opintojen ennätyspäivät
Nämä päivämäärät seuraavat ClinicalTrials.gov-sivustolle lähetettyjen tutkimustietueiden ja yhteenvetojen edistymistä. National Library of Medicine (NLM) tarkistaa tutkimustiedot ja raportoidut tulokset varmistaakseen, että ne täyttävät tietyt laadunvalvontastandardit, ennen kuin ne julkaistaan julkisella verkkosivustolla.
Opi tärkeimmät päivämäärät
Opiskelun aloitus (Todellinen)
Maanantai 1. kesäkuuta 2026
Ensisijainen valmistuminen (Arvioitu)
Sunnuntai 28. helmikuuta 2027
Opintojen valmistuminen (Arvioitu)
Sunnuntai 28. helmikuuta 2027
Opintoihin ilmoittautumispäivät
Ensimmäinen lähetetty
Tiistai 28. huhtikuuta 2026
Ensimmäinen toimitettu, joka täytti QC-kriteerit
Tiistai 28. huhtikuuta 2026
Ensimmäinen Lähetetty (Todellinen)
Tiistai 5. toukokuuta 2026
Tutkimustietojen päivitykset
Viimeisin päivitys julkaistu (Todellinen)
Maanantai 13. heinäkuuta 2026
Viimeisin lähetetty päivitys, joka täytti QC-kriteerit
Perjantai 10. heinäkuuta 2026
Viimeksi vahvistettu
Perjantai 1. toukokuuta 2026
Lisää tietoa
Tähän tutkimukseen liittyvät termit
Avainsanat
Muita asiaankuuluvia MeSH-ehtoja
Muut tutkimustunnusnumerot
- ENCOPER-HCB-2026-001
Yksittäisten osallistujien tietojen suunnitelma (IPD)
Aiotko jakaa yksittäisten osallistujien tietoja (IPD)?
JOO
IPD-suunnitelman kuvaus
Individual participant data (IPD) to be shared includes the anonymized case-level dataset containing: NASA-TLX subscale scores (T1, T2, T3), surgical case characteristics (anesthetic technique, surgical specialty, ASA, duration), and exploratory alarm management variables (VAS, P1, P2, P3).
Participant-level data (experience, training) will be included in anonymized form.
No directly identifiable information will be shared.
IPD-jaon aikakehys
IPD and supporting documents will be available starting 6 months after publication of the primary results article (estimated 2027-2028) and will remain available for 5 years.
IPD-jaon käyttöoikeuskriteerit
IPD will be available upon reasonable request to the principal investigator (vcaro@clinic.cat).
Requestors must provide: (1) a brief description of the proposed use, (2) institutional affiliation, and (3) agreement to data use conditions.
Data will be shared as anonymized datasets in CSV format.
No individual participant can be identified from the shared data.
IPD-jakamista tukeva tietotyyppi
- STUDY_PROTOCOL
- MAHLA
- ICF
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