Workload in Anesthesiological Practice

Objective and Subjective Mental Workload During Direct and Indirect Laryngoscopy in Anesthetists: an In-vivo, Cross-over Randomized Study

The study evaluates differences in perceived and objective workload in anesthetists during intubation procedure with a direct (Mcintosh) or indirect (Glidescope) laryngoscope. Expert anesthetists will perform 3 intubations per device, while completing a secondary task, during which reaction times to an auditory stimulus will be recorded, and will complete a questionnaire (the NASA-Task Load Index) to evaluate their perceived workload at the end of each procedure.

Intubation and laryngoscopy are the most demanding procedure in anesthesiological routine clinical practice, associated with high workload. The measurement and management of workload is considered important in anesthesiology to prevent work-related stress and errors in performance. New devices, thanks to advances in technology, seem promising in reducing operators' workload and improving safety and success of intubation processes. Therefore, in this study, based on previous results, the hypothesis that the Glidescope videolaryngoscope reduces operators' perceived and and objective workload, as compared to the standard Mcintosh laryngoscope, will be tested. Expert anesthetists will perform 3 intubations per device in a randomized order, while completing a secondary task, during which reaction times (verbal responses) to an auditory stimulus (a clacson) will be recorded, and operators will complete a questionnaire (the NASA-Task Load Index) to evaluate their perceived workload at the end of each procedure.

Anesthetists will perform intubation in patients undergoing elective neurosurgery with the Glidescope videolaryngoscope, while completing a secondary auditory task. Response times to the secondary task will be recorded, and operators will complete the NASA Task Load Index questionnaire at the end of each procedure.

Anesthetists will perform intubation in patients undergoing elective neurosurgery with the Mcintosh laryngoscope, while completing a secondary auditory task. Response times to the secondary task will be recorded, and operators will complete the NASA Task Load Index questionnaire at the end of each procedure.

Results from the self-reported NASA Task Load Index will be considered as measure of perceived subjective workload

Inclusion Criteria: Anesthetists with expertise in videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy that give consent to participate Exclusion Criteria: Anesthetists that refuse to participate Anesthetists without expertise in videolaryngoscopy and direct laryngoscopy that give consent to participate Anesthetists that have left hearing loss