Mis Afrouz Rostampour, Mr Heidar Mohammadi, Mr Razzagh Rahimpour, Mis Fatemeh Sarvi, Mis Elahe Dortaj, Mr Mansour Ziaei, Mis Simin Safarpour, Mr Abdolrasoul Rahmani,
Volume 9, Issue 4 (3-2022)
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Mental and physical fatigue of airport staff reduces their job standards and productive concentration. The objective of this study was to examine the sleep quality and its effect on cognitive failure and job performance among airport staffs.
Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, 200 staff of an airport were chosen by simple random sampling method. The data collecting tools were four questionnaires that comprised demographic characteristics, sleep quality, cognitive failures, and job performance. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and regression tests.
Results: Based on the findings, the mean total scores of the sleep quality, cognitive failures, and job performance were 6.78 ± 3.23, 65.22 ± 20.36 and 39.59 ± 5.59, respectively. The results showed that the mean score of sleep quality in the two areas of sleep latency (1.5 ± 0.82) and sleep duration (1.43 ± 1.05) was higher than other subscales. According to the findings, there was a significant inverse relationship between sleep quality score and cognitive failures score with job performance score (r = -0.195, P < 0.05), While the sleep quality score and cognitive failure score showed a positive and significant correlation (r = 0.389, P < 0.05).
Conclusion: The findings demonstrated a significant relationship between sleep quality and cognitive failure, so that with decreasing this factor, cognitive failure of airport staff also increased and the probability of the human error increased. Therefore, enhancing the sleep quality and comfort by providing ergonomic solutions the cognitive failure in staff and consequently job performance would be greatly prevented.
Davood Afshari, Maryam Nourollahi-Darabad, Noorollah Karimi, Maryam Seyed Tabib,
Volume 10, Issue 1 (7-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Nurses are at the front line of treatment and coping with COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, the present study investigates the pandemic’s impact on nurses ’mental workload and determines its predictive factors.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was done on 234 nurses in two groups working at COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards in 2020. The criteria for entering the study were the absence of psychological problems. Data was gathered using the General Health Questionnaire, NASA-TLX, and Demographic Questionnaire.
Results: The mean of the overall mental workload score in the group of nurses working at the Covid-19 wards (70.09 ± 2.51) was higher than the group of nurses working in the non-COVID-19 wards (66.55 ± 2.02). This difference was significant (P = 0.01). There was a significant difference between the mean score of the mental demand, the physical demand, the temporal demand, and the frustration level of the two groups. With the exception of performance, the group of nurses working in the corona ward had a higher mean score in all aspects. In the proposed linear model, 16% of the overall changes in mental workload depended on two variables, which were age and work experience. The work experience was the most influential factor in predicting nurses' mental workload.
Conclusion: The findings of the present study showed the importance of paying attention to the mental workload of nurses as well as personal and occupational factors affecting mental workload in the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, control and management of effective factors can help reduce mental workload, especially during pandemic conditions.
Gholamabbas Shirali, Abbas Mohammadi, Atefe Elyasigomari,
Volume 10, Issue 2 (9-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: Psychological parameters are among the most important components in determining the job performance of employees in the workplace and can be strongly affected by the epidemic of infectious diseases like COVID-19. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on mental workload and Occupational burnout of medical staff in Iran.
Methods: This case-control study was performed among the healthcare staff of two hospitals in Tehran province in 2021. All employees working in two hospitals were included by census method. The total number of people studied was 412 personnel. NASA-TLX and Maslach Burnout Inventory questionnaires were used to assess mental workload and burnout, respectively. Data were analyzed using Independent t-test and Chi-square.
Results: The present study results revealed that the mean age, work experience, daily working hours, and body mass index of the studied employees were 36.70 ± 11.48 years, 12.53 ± 7.13 years, 9.64 ± 3.13 hours, and 23.89 ± 4.73 kg/m2, respectively. There was a significant difference between the two groups of cases and controls in the values of mental workload (P = 0.011) and burnout (P = 0.001).
Conclusion: The present study's findings revealed that the prevalence of COVID-19 could increase the values of mental workload parameters and burnout of health care personnel in medical settings. Therefore, control measures and psychological interventions to improve healthcare personnel's mental and physical health during the COVID-19 epidemic are mandatory.
Rashid Heidarimoghadam, Alireza Mortezapour, Khadijeh Najafighobadi, Hamid Saeednia, Saeedeh Mosaferchi,
Volume 10, Issue 3 (12-2022)
Abstract
Objectives: The importance of surgery and its high workload are not hidden from anyone. So far, various studies have been conducted with the NASA-TLX instrument and other commonly used instruments to measure surgeons’ workload. The present study seeks to investigate the relationship between the mental workload of surgeons and their productivity through the validation of specialized tools for this job in Iranian culture.
Methods: After checking the validity and reliability of "SURG-TLX" and productivity tools, they were utilized among 60 surgeons to investigate the relationship between their workload and productivity (WHO-HPQ tool). Content validity indices, Cronbach's alpha coefficient and Spearman's correlation coefficient were used to analyse the results.
Results: Both tools had good validity and reliability in Iranian culture. The results of the relationship between mental workload subscales with different dimensions of productivity showed that some dimensions of mental workload including mental needs (correlation coefficient -0.65 and significance level 0.02), physical needs (correlation coefficient -0.54 and significance level 0.04) and time requirements (correlation coefficient -0.44 and significance level 0.02) had a reverse and significant relationship with the overall productivity score. Despite the reverse relationship between the other dimensions of mental workload and the overall productivity score in surgeons, this relationship was not statistically significant. The results indicated a reverse and significant relationship between some of the mental workload and some of the productivity subscales.
Conclusion: In addition to the possibility of using these tools in the future studies in Iran, due to the direct relationship between workload and productivity in surgeons, measures can be taken to maintain the workload at a standard level and prevent the reduction of their productivity.
Hamed Ahmadi, Mojtaba Noorllahi, Mohmmad Reza Soleimani, Ehsan Bitaraf,
Volume 10, Issue 4 (3-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Human-made environments can have negative and positive effects on the planet. One of the two-faceted artifacts is the construction of buildings for people's lives, buildings that are being built irregularly and quickly and lead to excessive consumption of fossil resources and energy waste. Become Therefore, one of the most important things in the design of a building is providing its thermal comfort; Comfort that has a direct effect on the cognitive function of humans. In this research, in addition to the topic of thermal comfort, we also discuss fatigue in the classroom, which is one of the factors influencing the cognitive performance of the students.
Methods: In this research, the cognitive performance of people were examined and compared in the range of thermal comfort and the suggested range of the Ashri standard. To investigate their performance in different temperature ranges, 220 architecture students of Ilam universities were selected by systematic random sampling method. The state of thermal comfort, cognitive functions, and fatigue of people was evaluated after measuring environmental factors through questionnaires and standard cognitive function software.
Results: In addition to thermal comfort, which has a direct relationship with the cognitive performance of students, the passage of time is not an exception to this rule, in other words, the cognitive performance of students is derived from thermal comfort and the passage of time, which has a direct effect on academic, mental productivity. and also their practical efficiency. After examining the data in this regard, we reached meaningful results that indicate the highest efficiency of the students in the conditions of proper thermal comfort and the first 60 minutes of the start of their performance.
Conclusion: The results of this research show that even if the thermal comfort of the students' classrooms is provided according to the ASHERI standard, the students' cognitive performance will decrease after 60 minutes from the start of the class.
Esmaeil Hani, Maryam Rafiee, Tahereh Eskandari,
Volume 11, Issue 3 (12-2023)
Abstract
Objectives: Pre-hospital emergency workers who are responsible for providing essential pre-hospital medical services are exposed to physical and mental disorders. Since musculoskeletal disorders can be affected by work-related stress and fatigue, the present study aimed to assess the relationship of work-related stress and fatigue with the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in pre-hospital emergency workers in Saveh.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2023. A total of 88 personnel of urban and road pre-hospital emergency centers in Saveh were included in the study by the census method. Data collection tools were the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20, and Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire. Data were analyzed in SPSS software (version 22) using independent t-tests, analysis of variance, Poisson regression, and Pearson correlation coefficients.
Results: The most common areas involved in musculoskeletal disorders were back (34.1%; n=30), neck (19.3%; n=17), and upper back (19.3%; n=17). Moreover, mean scores of work-related stress and work fatigue were 113.52±4.09 and 62.95±5.06, respectively. Musculoskeletal disorders showed a significant relationship with marital status, workplace, age, work experience, and number of working hours (P≤0.05). Nonetheless, there was no significant relationship between work-related stress and work fatigue (P=0.28), musculoskeletal disorders and work-related stress (P=0.93), as well as musculoskeletal disorders and work fatigue (P=0.44).
Conclusion: The prevalence of skeletal-muscular disorders was relatively high, and considering that these disorders are more frequently observed in married people and those who work on the road, training should be provided to these workers according to their place of work. The risk of developing skeletal-muscular disorders increases with age and work experience. Therefore, it is necessary to take precautions in this regard. Furthermore, since skeletal-muscular disorders increase with an increase in working hours, it is necessary to adjust working hours and avoid long shifts.
Zahra Rafat, Hamidreza Mokhtarinia, Mohsen Vahedi,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (1-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Changes in mental workload are related to performance and level of fatigue, stress, human error, and job dissatisfaction. Questionnaires are simple, accessible, and valid tools for the assessment of mental workload. Therefore, the present study aimed at translation, cultural adaptation, and evaluation of psychometric properties of the Carmen-Q mental workload questionnaire.
Methods: This study was conducted on 296 subjects (100 women and 196 men) with a mean age of 38.59±7.61 years, working in industrial and administrative sectors in several centers in Saveh. The process of translation and cultural adaptation was carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and included the stages of forward and backward translation, synthesizing and preparing a final version, piloting, and then final approval of the Persian version. Psychometric properties, including face validity (simplicity and readability), content validity (through content validity index), convergent validity (through correlation with NASA-TLX questionnaire), and internal consistency (using Cronbach's alpha coefficient) were assessed.
Results: The translation, cultural adaptation, and face validity assessment were carried out according to related guidelines, and the text underwent some minor changes. The Content Validity Index values for each of the items and its total (0.914) were acceptable. Cronbach's alpha value was acceptable for all items (0.91) and each subscale (above 0.8). Pearson's correlation coefficient displayed a moderate to good relationship between Carmen-Q and NASA task load index.
Conclusion: The Persian version of the Carmen-Q questionnaire is a valid and reliable tool for evaluating mental workload in Iranian society.
Niloofar Chinisaz, Marzieh Sadeghian, Amir Akbari, Maryam Yazdi,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: High workload, shift work, risk of disease, and mental workload caused by the possibility of transmission can create challenging and stressful situations for nurses. The present study aimed to assess the cognitive performance of nurses before and after working in COVID-19 wards to understand the potential effects.
Methods: A total of 250 nurses from hospitals in Ahvaz in 2020 who had more than two years of work experience and had not worked in departments in direct contact with COVID-19 patients were included in the study. The participants were asked to complete the cognitive ability assessment questionnaire before starting to work in COVID-19 departments and after two months of their work. The results before and after working in COVID-19 wards were compared using paired t-tests.
Results: The cognitive ability score after working in COVID-19 wards decreased significantly (mean difference±standard deviation: 23.92±12.00; P<0.001). The scores of all cognitive ability subscales except social cognition (mean difference±standard deviation: 3.03±2.43; P< 0.001) also decreased after working in COVID-19 wards.
Conclusion: Working in COVID-19 wards leads to a marked decrease in cognitive abilities of nurses. Given that the weakening of nurses' cognitive ability has a significant role in the quality of patient care measures, it is necessary to prioritize measures to improve their working conditions in order to improve cognitive abilities.
Raha Seidi, Mahnaz Saremi, Azam Malekighahfarokhi, Mahshid Namdari,
Volume 12, Issue 2 (7-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: User engagement with digital technologies refers to the sense of belonging and individual satisfaction. Visual aesthetics, characterized by simplicity and diversity, plays a crucial role in the design of products and online sales strategies. This study investigates the relationship between visual aesthetics and user engagement with in a selected social network.
Methods: This correlational descriptive-analytical study examines the attractiveness of two pages with similar educational content but differing visual aesthetics criteria on one of the social networks. The first page (Researcher-made page) exhibits higher standards of attractiveness compared to the second page (Basic page). Data were collected through online questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software.
Results: The study involved 116 participants, of whom 91 (78.4%) were female, with an average age of 26.8 ± 2.54 years. The majority of participants held a bachelor's degree (57.8%). The average visual aesthetics scores for the content pages (Researcher-made page) and (Basic page) were 95/92 and 84/9, respectively, indicating that Researcher-made page had greater visual appeal. Furthermore, the user engagement scores for Researcher-made page and Basic page were 107/9 and 100/02, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between visual appeal and user engagement on both pages (P<0.001), while no significant relationship was observed between gender or education level and these metrics (P>0.05).
Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the visual aesthetics of virtual content pages has a significant impact on user engagement. These findings underscore the importance of adhering to attractiveness criteria in content design, which can be beneficial for content creators, managers, and business owners.
Nilufar Davoodi, Arash Salahshouri, Marzieh Sadeghian,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: One of the occupations that is exposed to a lot of heat stress is taxi drivers. Due to their working conditions, these people spend a lot of time standing next to their cars in the sun to pick up passengers, and they are also exposed to heat stress throughout the entire driving journey. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of an educational intervention program on the cognitive performance of taxi drivers exposed to heat stress in a city in southern Iran.
Methods: The present study was a semi-experimental intervention that was conducted in three stages: initial assessment, training, and secondary assessment for 80 taxi drivers in two intervention and control groups. In the first stage, a general assessment of all drivers' knowledge and awareness of heat stress was performed, while cognitive parameters, including concentration skills and mental fatigue, were measured using a questionnaire. Then, training was given to the intervention group in both in-person and online formats. Two months after the start of training, cognitive parameters were measured for both intervention and control groups. Data analysis was also performed using SPSS software.
Results: The results after the intervention showed that the training significantly increased concentration skills and significantly reduced mental fatigue (P<0.001). Regarding concentration skills and mental fatigue, along with all subcategories of the two questionnaires, the results showed that there was no significant difference between these variables before the intervention between the two groups. However, the difference between the two groups was significant after the intervention (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Implementing an appropriate training program with follow-up over a period of two months to familiarize individuals with heat stress improved cognitive performance, and using follow-up training with a virtual structure improved the teaching and learning process and had an impact on individuals' performance.
Rohollah Fallah Madvari, Reyhane Sefidkar, Reza Raeisi,
Volume 12, Issue 3 (12-2024)
Abstract
Objectives: Mental workload and chronic fatigue in the workplace are challenges that affect employees' capabilities and health. The aim of this study is to examine the correlation between the subscales of mental workload and various physical and mental dimensions of chronic fatigue in small industries and related jobs.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted on employees of small industries in Eghlid with a sample size of 247 participants. Data were collected using three questionnaires: demographic information, NASA-TLX, and Chalder fatigue scale. For data analysis, Spearman's correlation test and SPSS software were used.
Results: The results showed significant differences between marital status, age groups, and work experience across different occupations, while no significant differences were found based on education level. The highest mean score of the mental workload subscales was related to the physical demand subscale, while the lowest was related to the frustration subscale. Significant differences were observed in the scores of mental workload subscales across different job categories, but no significant differences were found in the scores of physical and mental fatigue dimensions across job types. All mental workload subscales, except for performance, had a direct correlation with physical and mental fatigue dimensions, while the performance subscale showed an inverse relationship.
Conclusion: The findings of this study emphasize the importance of a more precise understanding of the relationship between mental workload and fatigue in workplace environments and could contribute to improving working conditions and the quality of life for employees in small industries.
Seyedeh Aghdas Hosseini, Zeynab Moradian Haft Cheshmeh, Fardin Zandsalimi, Mahsa Mashayekhi,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2025)
Abstract
Objectives: Cognitive failures are important for reducing accidents and improving performance, and they depend on multiple factors. Given that this issue has received less attention among midwives, the present study aimed to determine the status of cognitive failures concerning individual factors and personality traits among midwives.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the summer of 2024 on 211 midwives working in Kermanshah province in Iran. The samples were selected using a convenience sampling method. In addition, a standard three-part questionnaire was used. The first part included demographic information, and the second and third parts included questions from the Cognitive Failures Questionnaire and the short form of the NEO Personality Inventory. Moreover, data were analyzed using the SPSS (version 24) software.
Results: The mean age and work experience of the midwives participating in this study were 36.22±8.03 years and 10.38±7.85 years, respectively. The overall scores for cognitive failures in memory, action, and attention were 16.79±3.04, 17.41±2.80, and 16.30±3.62, in respective order. The results revealed a positive relationship between age, work experience, and body mass index (BMI) with cognitive failures and a negative relationship between exercising and cognitive failures. Neuroticism, agreeableness, and openness were positively related to cognitive failures, while conscientiousness was negatively related to cognitive failures.
Conclusion: The status of cognitive failures in the action dimension was more unfavorable than the other two dimensions. Some individual and personality traits were directly, and others inversely related to cognitive failures. Further research in this area is necessary.
