TY - JOUR
T1 - Interruptions and multitasking in surgery
T2 - a multicentre observational study of the daily work patterns of doctors and nurses
AU - Bellandi, Tommaso
AU - Cerri, Alessandro
AU - Carreras, Giulia
AU - Walter, Scott
AU - Mengozzi, Cipriana
AU - Albolino, Sara
AU - Mastrominico, Eleonora
AU - Renzetti, Fernando
AU - Tartaglia, Riccardo
AU - Westbrook, Johanna
PY - 2018
Y1 - 2018
N2 - The aim of this study was to obtain baseline data on doctors’ and nurses’ work activities and rates of interruptions and multitasking to improve work organisation and processes. Data were collected in six surgical units with the WOMBAT (Work Observation Method by Activity Timing) tool. Results show that doctors and nurses received approximately 13 interruptions per hour, or one interruption every 4.5 min. Compared to doctors, nurses were more prone to interruptions in most activities, while doctors performed multitasking (33.47% of their time, 95% CI 31.84–35.17%) more than nurses (15.23%, 95% CI 14.24–16.25%). Overall, the time dedicated to patient care is relatively limited for both professions (37.21%, 95% CI 34.95–39.60% for doctors, 27.22%, 95% CI 25.18–29.60% for nurses) compared to the time spent for registration of data and professional communication, that accounts for two-thirds of doctors’ time and nearly half of nurses’ time. Further investigation is needed on strategies to manage job demands and professional communications. Practitioner Summary: This study offers further findings on the characteristics and frequency of multitasking and interruptions in surgery, with a comparison of how they affect doctors and nurses. Further investigation is needed to improve the management of job demands and communications according to the results.
AB - The aim of this study was to obtain baseline data on doctors’ and nurses’ work activities and rates of interruptions and multitasking to improve work organisation and processes. Data were collected in six surgical units with the WOMBAT (Work Observation Method by Activity Timing) tool. Results show that doctors and nurses received approximately 13 interruptions per hour, or one interruption every 4.5 min. Compared to doctors, nurses were more prone to interruptions in most activities, while doctors performed multitasking (33.47% of their time, 95% CI 31.84–35.17%) more than nurses (15.23%, 95% CI 14.24–16.25%). Overall, the time dedicated to patient care is relatively limited for both professions (37.21%, 95% CI 34.95–39.60% for doctors, 27.22%, 95% CI 25.18–29.60% for nurses) compared to the time spent for registration of data and professional communication, that accounts for two-thirds of doctors’ time and nearly half of nurses’ time. Further investigation is needed on strategies to manage job demands and professional communications. Practitioner Summary: This study offers further findings on the characteristics and frequency of multitasking and interruptions in surgery, with a comparison of how they affect doctors and nurses. Further investigation is needed to improve the management of job demands and communications according to the results.
KW - doctors’ and nurses’ workload
KW - multitasking and interruptions
KW - safety in surgery
KW - structured observations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85024380998&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/00140139.2017.1349934
DO - 10.1080/00140139.2017.1349934
M3 - Article
C2 - 28697685
AN - SCOPUS:85024380998
SN - 0014-0139
VL - 61
SP - 40
EP - 47
JO - Ergonomics
JF - Ergonomics
IS - 1
ER -