Dataset Information

An exploratory investigation of the measurement of cognitive load on shift: Application of cognitive load theory in emergency medicine.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Emergency physicians often experience a high cognitive load (CL) due to the inherent nature of working in acute care settings. CL has traditionally been measured in educational studies but has not been well studied in the clinical environment.

Methods

Emergency medicine attending physicians and residents working in an academic urgent care center completed psychometric questionnaires while on shift to measure overall CL, intrinsic cognitive load (ICL), extraneous cognitive load (ECL), and acute stress. Data regarding the patient load, patient acuity, and the number of patients in the waiting room were also collected. Correlational analysis and simple linear regression were used to evaluate predictors of CL on shift.

Results

Forty-two questionnaires were completed (26 by attending physicians, 16 by residents). Attending physicians carried a significantly higher patient load compared to residents (p < 0.001). No differences in mean overall CL, ICL, ECL, and acute stress were observed between attending physicians and residents. Bivariate analysis demonstrated associations between ICL, ECL, acute stress, and overall CL in attending physicians. In residents, acute stress was the only variable associated with overall CL and the number of high-acuity patients was associated with ICL.

Conclusions

Factors influencing reported CL during clinical work are different between attending emergency physicians and residents. Further study to appreciate the impact of these differences is required and may help educators elucidate strategies to better manage CL, thereby improving clinical performance and potentially improving patient care.

SUBMITTER: Vella KM

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8372981 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

An exploratory investigation of the measurement of cognitive load on shift: Application of cognitive load theory in emergency medicine.

Vella Kimberly M KM Hall Andrew K AK van Merrienboer Jeroen J G JJG Hopman Wilma M WM Szulewski Adam A

AEM education and training 20210801 4

<h4>Background</h4>Emergency physicians often experience a high cognitive load (CL) due to the inherent nature of working in acute care settings. CL has traditionally been measured in educational studies but has not been well studied in the clinical environment.<h4>Methods</h4>Emergency medicine attending physicians and residents working in an academic urgent care center completed psychometric questionnaires while on shift to measure overall CL, intrinsic cognitive load (ICL), extraneous cogniti ...[more]

PMID: 34447896

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Dataset Information

An exploratory investigation of the measurement of cognitive load on shift: Application of cognitive load theory in emergency medicine.

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Publications

An exploratory investigation of the measurement of cognitive load on shift: Application of cognitive load theory in emergency medicine.

Similar Datasets

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