Multitasking in postanesthesia care unit following nurse interruptions, an analysis of the causes and consequences using classification tree: an observational prospective study

Abstract Background: Postanesthesia Care Unit (PACU) is an environment associated with an important workload which is susceptible to lead to task interruption (TI), leading to task-switching or concurrent multitasking. The objective of the study was to determine the predictors of the reaction of the nurses facing TI and assess those who lead to an alteration of the initial task. Methods: We conducted a prospective observational study into the PACU of a university hospital during February 2017. Among 18 nurses, a selected one was observed each day, documenting for each TI the reaction of the nurse (task switching or concurrent multitasking), and the characteristics associated with the TI. We performed classification tree analyses using C5.0 algorithm in order to select the main predictors of the type of multitasking performed and the alteration of the initial task. Results: We observed 1119 TI during 132 hours (8.5 TI/hour). The main reaction was concurrent multitasking (805 TI, 72%). The short duration of the task interruption (one minute or less) was the most important predictor leading to concurrent multitasking. Other predictors of response to TI were the identity of the task interrupter and the number of nurses present. Regarding the consequences of the task switching, long interruption (more than five minutes) was the most important predictor of the alteration of the initial task. Conclusions: By analysing the predictors of the type of multitasking in front of TI, we propose a novel approach to understanding TI, offering new perspective for prevention strategies.

Comportamento de 'media multitasking' (MMT) na pré-adolescência: Revisão integrativa e recomendações para pesquisas futuras / Media multitasking behavior (MMT) in pre-adolescence: Integrative review and recommendations for future research / Comportamiento de 'media multitasking' (MMT) en la preadolescencia: Revisión integradora y recomendaciones para futuras investigaciones

O acesso facilitado às tecnologias de informação e comunicação no dia a dia propicia a realização de diferentes atividades ao mesmo tempo. Este comportamento é chamado 'media multitasking' (MMT). Nos últimos anos, houve um aumento significativo no acesso a essas tecnologias por crianças na faixa etária de transição entre a infância e a adolescência. Com o objetivo de compreender as implicações desse fenômeno para a saúde mental e o bem-estar, foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura, abrangendo estudos empíricos publicados de janeiro de 2010 a janeiro de 2020 em periódicos científicos indexados às bases de dados MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science e ERIC. Como resultado, identificou-se uma convergência no entendimento de que o comportamento de MMT pode afetar o desenvolvimento de habilidades componentes das funções executivas e de competências socioemocionais, interferindo no funcionamento cognitivo e psicossocial. O estudo revelou importantes demandas de pesquisa, atentando particularmente para possíveis associações entre MMT e características próprias da pré-adolescência. Além disso, concluiu-se que esse comportamento constitui uma variável relevante a ser considerada na prática clínica, em intervenções e ações psicoeducativas, bem como para assegurar assertividade em avaliações psicológicas e neuropsicológicas, especialmente tratando-se das novas gerações.

The facilitated access to information and communication technologies in everyday life promotes engaging in different activities simultaneously. This behavior is called media multitasking (MMT). In recent years there has been a significant increase in access to such technologies among children in the age group between childhood and adolescence. In order to understand the implications of this phenomenon to mental health and well-being, an integrative literature review was carried out, covering empirical studies published from January 2010 to January 2020 in scientific journals indexed to the MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and ERIC databases. As a result, a convergence was identified in the understanding that MMT behavior can impact the development of constituent abilities of executive functions and social-emotional skills, interfering with cognitive and psychosocial functioning. The study revealed important research demands, particularly related to the possible associations between MMT and the characteristics of pre-adolescence. Furthermore, it led to the conclusion that this behavior constitutes a relevant variable to be considered in clinical practice, in interventions and psychoeducational efforts, as well as to ensure assertiveness in psychological and neuropsychological assessments, especially concerning the new generations.

El acceso facilitado a las tecnologías de la información y comunicación en el cotidiano promueve la realización de diferentes actividades al mismo tiempo. Este comportamiento es llamado 'media multitasking' (MMT). En los últimos años, ha sucedido un aumento significativo en el acceso a esas tecnologías por niños en el grupo de edad de transición entre la infancia y la adolescencia. Para comprender las implicaciones de este fenómeno para la salud mental y el bienestar, se realizó una revisión integradora de la literatura, abarcando estudios empíricos publicados desde enero de 2010 a enero de 2020 en revistas científicas indexadas a las bases de datos MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science y ERIC. Como resultado, se encontró una convergencia en el entendimiento de que el comportamiento de MMT puede afectar el desarrollo de habilidades que componen las funciones ejecutivas y las competencias socioemocionales, interfiriendo con el funcionamiento cognitivo y psicosocial. El estudio mostró importantes demandas de investigación, particularmente con atención a las posibles asociaciones entre MMT y características de la preadolescencia. Además, se concluyó que este comportamiento es una variable relevante a considerar en la práctica clínica, en las intervenciones y acciones psicoeducativas, así como para asegurar asertividad en las evaluaciones psicológicas y neuropsicológicas, especialmente con las nuevas generaciones.

Relación entre el uso de redes sociales y las funciones ejecutivas / Relationship between the use of social networks and executive functions

Este artículo busca contextualizar las herramientas digitales y los smartphones en la interacción de los seres humanos, con el interés de describir la forma en que los jóvenes usan las redes sociales y los usos problemáticos de estas, para luego relacionar esto con las funciones ejecutivas del lóbulo prefrontal. Se centra la atención en el control inhibitorio, la memoria de trabajo y la flexibilidad mental porque son la base de otras funciones ejecutivas, como la planificación o monitorización; adicionalmente, estas tres funciones han sido reportadas como las más afectadas por el uso excesivo de redes sociales. Finalmente, se busca aproximarse al hecho de que los procesos cognitivos que requieren mayores periodos de concentración se pueden volver superficiales por la influencia del uso y sobreuso de las redes sociales.

This article seeks to contextualize digital tools and smartphones in the interaction of human beings, with the interest of describing how young people use social networks and the problematic uses of these, and then relate this to the executive functions of the prefrontal lobe. Attention is focused on inhibitory control, working memory and mental flexibility because they are the basis of other executive functions, such as planning or monitoring; additionally, these three functions have been reported as the most affected by the excessive use of social networks. Finally, we seek to approach the fact that cognitive processes that require longer periods of concentration can become superficial due to the influence of the use and overuse of social networks.

The impact of multitasking on visual processing speed, cognitive inhibition, executive function, and short-term memory

Background: The simultaneous usage of cell phone while driving and reading has become ubiquitous phenomenon which can have detrimental effects. Objective: We evaluated the effect of simultaneous cell phone conversation on multiple cognitive domains using standard battery of cognitive tests. Materials and Methods: Apparently healthy participants (age 18–25 years) who had no cognitive, visual, motor, and hearing impairments were recruited. They performed visual reaction time (VRT), Go-No-Go (GNG) task, Stroop’s task, and N-back test either during a cell phone conversation or without it, in a randomized crossover trial. The difference in latency was analyzed using Wilcoxon Signed-Ranked test among the paired data which were not normally distributed, while paired t-test was used for the normally distributed data. McNemar test was used to find the accuracy of the responses for all the four tasks. Results: The latency of the VRT, GNG, and Stoop’s test significantly increased while using the cell phone compared to without using a cell phone (P < 0.001). N-back test had a similar trend though not statistically significant. Accuracy reduced during the cell phone conversation in VRT (P < 0.004), Stroop’s test (P < 0.001), and N-back test (P < 0.013). GNG did not show a statistically significant reduction in accuracy. Conclusions: There is reduction in specific cognitive abilities (both in latency and accuracy) during multitasking, for instance, reaction time and executive function while conversing through a mobile phone.