Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery
© 2019 Palejwala et al. Objectives Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological paramet...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
2019
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/82545 |
| _version_ | 1848764517255741440 |
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| author | Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Ward, M.K. Yam, C. Maroni, T. Parker, Sharon Wood, F. |
| author_facet | Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Ward, M.K. Yam, C. Maroni, T. Parker, Sharon Wood, F. |
| author_sort | Palejwala, Z. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | © 2019 Palejwala et al. Objectives Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery. Methods Due to varying activity levels, surgery staff were allocated to either an Active (n = 9) or Less- Active (n = 8) subgroup, with both subgroups performing two simulated burn surgery trials (CONTROL: ambient conditions; 23±0.2°C, 35.8±1.2% RH and HOT: 34±0°C, 28.3±1.9% RH; 150 min duration for each trial), using a crossover design with four weeks between trials. Manual dexterity, core-temperature, heart-rate, sweat-loss, thermal sensation and alertness were assessed at various time points during surgery. Results Pre-trials, 13/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (HOT) while 12/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (CONTROL). There were no significant differences in manual dexterity scores between trials, however there was a tendency for scores to be lower/impaired during HOT (both subgroups) compared to CONTROL, at various time-points (Cohen's d = -0.74 to -0.50). Furthermore, alertness scores tended to be higher/ better in HOT (Active subgroup only) for most time-points (p = 0.06) compared to CONTROL, while core-temperature and heart-rate were higher in HOT either overall (Active; p<0.05) or at numerous time points (Less-Active; p<0.05). Finally, sweat-loss and thermal sensation were greater/higher in HOT for both subgroups (p<0.05). Conclusions A hot operating theatre resulted in significantly higher core-temperature, heart-rate, thermal sensation and sweat-loss in staff. There was also a tendency for slight impairment in manual dexterity, while alertness improved. A longer, real-life surgery is likely to further increase physiological variables assessed here and in turn affect optimal performance/outcomes. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:20:37Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-82545 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:20:37Z |
| publishDate | 2019 |
| publisher | PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-825452021-10-27T05:55:12Z Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Ward, M.K. Yam, C. Maroni, T. Parker, Sharon Wood, F. Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics BODY-TEMPERATURE HEAT-STRESS SPRINT PERFORMANCE PURDUE PEGBOARD WARM-UP EXERCISE THERMOREGULATION DEHYDRATION MANAGEMENT FLUID © 2019 Palejwala et al. Objectives Hot environmental conditions can result in a high core-temperature and dehydration which can impair physical and cognitive performance. This study aimed to assess the effects of a hot operating theatre on various performance, physiological and psychological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery. Methods Due to varying activity levels, surgery staff were allocated to either an Active (n = 9) or Less- Active (n = 8) subgroup, with both subgroups performing two simulated burn surgery trials (CONTROL: ambient conditions; 23±0.2°C, 35.8±1.2% RH and HOT: 34±0°C, 28.3±1.9% RH; 150 min duration for each trial), using a crossover design with four weeks between trials. Manual dexterity, core-temperature, heart-rate, sweat-loss, thermal sensation and alertness were assessed at various time points during surgery. Results Pre-trials, 13/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (HOT) while 12/17 participants were mildly-significantly dehydrated (CONTROL). There were no significant differences in manual dexterity scores between trials, however there was a tendency for scores to be lower/impaired during HOT (both subgroups) compared to CONTROL, at various time-points (Cohen's d = -0.74 to -0.50). Furthermore, alertness scores tended to be higher/ better in HOT (Active subgroup only) for most time-points (p = 0.06) compared to CONTROL, while core-temperature and heart-rate were higher in HOT either overall (Active; p<0.05) or at numerous time points (Less-Active; p<0.05). Finally, sweat-loss and thermal sensation were greater/higher in HOT for both subgroups (p<0.05). Conclusions A hot operating theatre resulted in significantly higher core-temperature, heart-rate, thermal sensation and sweat-loss in staff. There was also a tendency for slight impairment in manual dexterity, while alertness improved. A longer, real-life surgery is likely to further increase physiological variables assessed here and in turn affect optimal performance/outcomes. 2019 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/82545 10.1371/journal.pone.0222923 English http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics BODY-TEMPERATURE HEAT-STRESS SPRINT PERFORMANCE PURDUE PEGBOARD WARM-UP EXERCISE THERMOREGULATION DEHYDRATION MANAGEMENT FLUID Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Ward, M.K. Yam, C. Maroni, T. Parker, Sharon Wood, F. Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title | Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title_full | Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title_fullStr | Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title_short | Effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| title_sort | effects of a hot ambient operating theatre on manual dexterity, psychological and physiological parameters in staff during a simulated burn surgery |
| topic | Science & Technology Multidisciplinary Sciences Science & Technology - Other Topics BODY-TEMPERATURE HEAT-STRESS SPRINT PERFORMANCE PURDUE PEGBOARD WARM-UP EXERCISE THERMOREGULATION DEHYDRATION MANAGEMENT FLUID |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/82545 |