An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members
Objective: To isolate heat exposure as a cause of cognitive impairment and increased subjective workload in burns surgical teams. Summary of Background Data: Raising ambient temperature of the operating room can improve burns patient outcomes, but risks increased cognitive impairment and workload of...
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
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LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS
2021
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| Online Access: | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90963 |
| _version_ | 1848765473407107072 |
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| author | Ward, Mary K. Yam, C.M.H. Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Taggart, S.M. Wood, F.M. Parker, Sharon |
| author_facet | Ward, Mary K. Yam, C.M.H. Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Taggart, S.M. Wood, F.M. Parker, Sharon |
| author_sort | Ward, Mary K. |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Objective: To isolate heat exposure as a cause of cognitive impairment and increased subjective workload in burns surgical teams. Summary of Background Data: Raising ambient temperature of the operating room can improve burns patient outcomes, but risks increased cognitive impairment and workload of surgical team members. Prior research indicates ambient heat exposure depletes physiological and cognitive resources, but these findings have not been studied in the context of burns surgical teams. Methods: Seventeen surgical team members completed 2 surgery simulations of similar complexities in a hot and in a normothermic operating room. During each simulation, participants completed multiple cognitive tests to assess cognitive functioning and the SURG-TLX to self-assess workload. Order effects, core body temperature changes due to menstruation, and circadian rhythms were controlled for in the experimental design. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and mixed ANOVAs were performed to assess relationships between ambient heat exposure with cognitive functioning and perceived workload. Results: Heat had a main effect on executive functioning and verbal reasoning. Duration of heat exposure (heat * time) increased response times and negatively impacted executive functioning, spatial planning, and mental rotation. Perceived workload was higher in the hot condition. Conclusions: We provide causal evidence that over time, heat exposure impairs cognitive speed and accuracy, and increases subjective workload. We recommend building on this study to drive best-practices for acute burns surgery and design work to enable burns teams to maintain their cognitive stamina, lower their workload, and improve outcomes for patients and surgeons. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:35:48Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-90963 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T11:35:48Z |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-909632023-05-05T07:51:54Z An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members Ward, Mary K. Yam, C.M.H. Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Taggart, S.M. Wood, F.M. Parker, Sharon Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Surgery cognitive demand physical demand temperature work environment workload PERFORMANCE TEMPERATURE TASK HYPERTHERMIA HYPOTHERMIA RESPONSES SURGERY STRESS Adult Australia Burns Cognition Computer Simulation Cross-Over Studies Female Hot Temperature Humans Incidence Male Middle Aged Occupational Exposure Operating Rooms Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires Workload Young Adult Humans Burns Incidence Cross-Over Studies Cognition Occupational Exposure Computer Simulation Adult Middle Aged Operating Rooms Workload Australia Female Male Hot Temperature Young Adult Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires Objective: To isolate heat exposure as a cause of cognitive impairment and increased subjective workload in burns surgical teams. Summary of Background Data: Raising ambient temperature of the operating room can improve burns patient outcomes, but risks increased cognitive impairment and workload of surgical team members. Prior research indicates ambient heat exposure depletes physiological and cognitive resources, but these findings have not been studied in the context of burns surgical teams. Methods: Seventeen surgical team members completed 2 surgery simulations of similar complexities in a hot and in a normothermic operating room. During each simulation, participants completed multiple cognitive tests to assess cognitive functioning and the SURG-TLX to self-assess workload. Order effects, core body temperature changes due to menstruation, and circadian rhythms were controlled for in the experimental design. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and mixed ANOVAs were performed to assess relationships between ambient heat exposure with cognitive functioning and perceived workload. Results: Heat had a main effect on executive functioning and verbal reasoning. Duration of heat exposure (heat * time) increased response times and negatively impacted executive functioning, spatial planning, and mental rotation. Perceived workload was higher in the hot condition. Conclusions: We provide causal evidence that over time, heat exposure impairs cognitive speed and accuracy, and increases subjective workload. We recommend building on this study to drive best-practices for acute burns surgery and design work to enable burns teams to maintain their cognitive stamina, lower their workload, and improve outcomes for patients and surgeons. 2021 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90963 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004598 English http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033 LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Surgery cognitive demand physical demand temperature work environment workload PERFORMANCE TEMPERATURE TASK HYPERTHERMIA HYPOTHERMIA RESPONSES SURGERY STRESS Adult Australia Burns Cognition Computer Simulation Cross-Over Studies Female Hot Temperature Humans Incidence Male Middle Aged Occupational Exposure Operating Rooms Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires Workload Young Adult Humans Burns Incidence Cross-Over Studies Cognition Occupational Exposure Computer Simulation Adult Middle Aged Operating Rooms Workload Australia Female Male Hot Temperature Young Adult Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires Ward, Mary K. Yam, C.M.H. Palejwala, Z. Wallman, K. Taggart, S.M. Wood, F.M. Parker, Sharon An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title | An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title_full | An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title_fullStr | An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title_full_unstemmed | An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title_short | An Experimental Simulation of Heat Effects on Cognition and Workload of Surgical Team Members |
| title_sort | experimental simulation of heat effects on cognition and workload of surgical team members |
| topic | Science & Technology Life Sciences & Biomedicine Surgery cognitive demand physical demand temperature work environment workload PERFORMANCE TEMPERATURE TASK HYPERTHERMIA HYPOTHERMIA RESPONSES SURGERY STRESS Adult Australia Burns Cognition Computer Simulation Cross-Over Studies Female Hot Temperature Humans Incidence Male Middle Aged Occupational Exposure Operating Rooms Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires Workload Young Adult Humans Burns Incidence Cross-Over Studies Cognition Occupational Exposure Computer Simulation Adult Middle Aged Operating Rooms Workload Australia Female Male Hot Temperature Young Adult Surgeons Surveys and Questionnaires |
| url | http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/FL160100033 http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/90963 |