The Flux Operator.

Converged computing is an emerging area of computing that brings together the best of both worlds for high performance computing (HPC) and cloud-native communities. The economic influence of cloud computing and the need for workflow portability, flexibility, and manageability are driving this emergence. Navigating the uncharted territory and building an effective space for both HPC and cloud require collaborative technological development and research. In this work, we focus on developing components for the converged workload manager, the central component of batch workflows running in any environment. From the cloud we base our work on Kubernetes, the de facto standard batch workload orchestrator. From HPC the orchestrator counterpart is Flux Framework, a fully hierarchical resource management and graph-based scheduler with a modular architecture that supports sophisticated scheduling and job management. Bringing these managers together consists of implementing Flux inside of Kubernetes, enabling hierarchical resource management and scheduling that scales without burdening the Kubernetes scheduler. This paper introduces the Flux Operator - an on-demand HPC workload manager deployed in Kubernetes. Our work describes design decisions, mapping components between environments, and experimental features. We perform experiments that compare application performance when deployed by the Flux Operator and the MPI Operator and present the results. Finally, we review remaining challenges and describe our vision of the future for improved technological innovation and collaboration through converged computing.

Prediction of image interpretation cognitive ability under different mental workloads: a task-state fMRI study.

Visual imaging experts play an important role in multiple fields, and studies have shown that the combination of functional magnetic resonance imaging and machine learning techniques can predict cognitive abilities, which provides a possible method for selecting individuals with excellent image interpretation skills. We recorded behavioral data and neural activity of 64 participants during image interpretation tasks under different workloads. Based on the comprehensive image interpretation ability, participants were divided into two groups. general linear model analysis showed that during image interpretation tasks, the high-ability group exhibited higher activation in middle frontal gyrus (MFG), fusiform gyrus, inferior occipital gyrus, superior parietal gyrus, inferior parietal gyrus, and insula compared to the low-ability group. The radial basis function Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithm shows the most excellent performance in predicting participants' image interpretation abilities (Pearson correlation coefficient = 0.54, R2 = 0.31, MSE = 0.039, RMSE = 0.002). Variable importance analysis indicated that the activation features of the fusiform gyrus and MFG played an important role in predicting this ability. Our study revealed the neural basis related to image interpretation ability when exposed to different mental workloads. Additionally, our results demonstrated the efficacy of machine learning algorithms in extracting neural activation features to predict such ability.

Validação de escala para mensurar a carga de trabalho das parteiras / Validación de escala para medir la carga de trabajo de las parteras / Validation of a scale to measure the workload of midwives

Resumo Objetivo Validar a elaboração de uma escala para mensurar a carga de trabalho das parteiras com base na Classificação das Intervenções de Enfermagem (NIC) por meio da sua aplicação multicêntrica em diferentes unidades de parto. Métodos Estudo quantitativo, longitudinal, de caráter multicêntrico, realizado em três hospitais universitários gerais da rede pública de saúde. A amostra foi composta por cinquenta parteiras, que examinaram a validade de construto da escala elaborada, com um total de 370 partos. A coleta de dados iniciou-se por meio da escala elaborada ad hoc pela equipe de pesquisa, contabilizando o tempo e o número médio de intervenções NIC, realizadas a cada nascimento. Resultados As parteiras do estudo estão sujeitas a um aumento na sua carga de trabalho quanto ao número e ao tempo médio gasto na realização das NIC em cada parto atendido. Em sua jornada de trabalho (turno de 12 horas), elas destinam 960,61 minutos (16 horas no turno diurno) e 840,29 minutos (14 horas no turno noturno) para executar suas funções na assistência ao parto. Conclusões Os dados indicam a validade da escala elaborada ad hoc, pois esse instrumento reflete a real carga de trabalho vivenciada pelas parteiras do estudo.

Resumen Objetivo Validar la elaboración de una escala para medir la carga de trabajo de las parteras con base en la Clasificación de Intervenciones de Enfermería (NIC) a través de su aplicación multicéntrica en diferentes unidades de parto. Métodos Estudio cuantitativo, longitudinal, de carácter multicéntrico, realizado en tres hospitales universitarios generales del sistema de salud pública. La muestra estuvo compuesta por 50 parteras, que examinaron la validez del constructo de la escala elaborada, con un total de 370 partos. La recopilación de datos comenzó mediante la escala elaborada ad hoc por el equipo de investigación y contabilizó el tiempo y el número de intervenciones NIC realizadas en cada nacimiento. Resultados Las parteras del estudio están sujetas a un aumento de su carga de trabajo con relación al número y al tiempo promedio utilizado en la realización de las NIC en cada parto atendido. En su jornada laboral (turno de 12 horas), destinan 960,61 minutos (16 horas en el turno diurno) y 840,29 minutos (14 horas en el turno nocturno) para ejecutar sus funciones en la atención al parto. Conclusión Los datos indican la validez de la escala elaborada ad hoc, ya que este instrumento refleja la real carga de trabajo que tienen las parteras del estudio.

Abstract Objective To validate the design of a scale to measure the workload of the midwives based on Classification of Nursing Interventions (NIC), through their multicentric application in different delivery units. Methods Quantitative, longitudinal, study multicentric character, conducted in three general university hospitals of the public system of health. The sample consisted of fifty midwives, who examined the validity of the construct of the designed scale, for a total of 370 births. Data collection began through the scale designed ad hoc by the research team, accounting for the time and average number of NIC interventions, performed at each birth. Results The midwives of the study, are subject to an increase in their workload regarding the number and average time spent conducting interventions NIC in each attended delivery. In their working day (12-hour shift) they allocate 960.61 minutes (16 hours in day shift) and 840.29 minutes (14 hours in night shift), to execute their roles in childbirth attendance. Conclusion The data indicate the validity of the scale designed ad hoc, as this instrument reflects the actual workload experienced by the midwives of the study.

Mental workload classification using convolutional neural networks based on fNIRS-derived prefrontal activity.

BACKGROUND: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a tool to assess brain activity during cognitive testing. Despite its usefulness, its feasibility in assessing mental workload remains unclear. This study was to investigate the potential use of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS)-derived signals to classify mental workload in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. METHODS: Spatial images by constructing a statistical activation map from the prefrontal activity of 120 subjects with MCI performing three difficulty levels of the N-back task (0, 1, and 2-back) were used for CNNs. The CNNs were evaluated using a 5 and 10-fold cross-validation method. RESULTS: As the difficulty level of the N-back task increased, the accuracy decreased and prefrontal activity increased. In addition, there was a significant difference in the accuracy and prefrontal activity across the three levels (p's < 0.05). The accuracy of the CNNs based on fNIRS-derived spatial images evaluated by 5 and 10-fold cross-validation in classifying the difficulty levels ranged from 0.83 to 0.96. CONCLUSION: fNIRS could also be a promising tool for measuring mental workload in older adults with MCI despite their cognitive decline. In addition, this study demonstrated the feasibility of the classification performance of the CNNs based on fNIRS-derived signals from the prefrontal cortex.

Healthy working in inclusive companies - a study protocol of the GAIN project.

BACKGROUND: The research project GAIN (working healthy in inclusion companies) deals with the topics of health and work in inclusive companies. Due to a great need for research on (occupational) health (e.g. physical and mental health status) and workplace design in companies employing people with disabilities, this project pursues the primary goal of generating information for the development and implementation of health-preserving measures within the framework of occupational health and safety, and risk assessment, for employees with and without impairments in inclusive companies. METHODS: Within the framework of the project, the employees of three inclusive companies will be examined with the help of an interdisciplinary and triangulative approach. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, specific physical workloads and hazards will be investigated by means of baseline screening methods and measurement techniques, specifically among employees with physical disabilities and impairments. In the statistical analysis, descriptive methods will be used to record the current state, while inferential statistical methods will be used to evaluate health maintenance measures. Inferential statistics for continuous data with confidence intervals based on the statistical parametric mapping (SPM) method will also be performed. The significance level will be set at 5%. Qualitative methods will be used to analyse structures and working conditions within the companies, with particular attention to the specific construction of the relationship between work, health and disability. CONCLUSIONS: The structures in inclusion companies must be specifically designed to support and promote the understanding of work and health in relation to the idea of one's own body, its positioning in space and its performance. These characteristics are to be identified in the course of the project and bundled into best-practice recommendations. Furthermore, it is the aim of the research project to derive recommendations for action at its conclusion and to present further advice for the promotion of health in inclusive companies.

Relationships between external loads, sRPE-load, and self-reported soreness across a men's collegiate soccer season.

The purpose was to examine relationships between external loads (ELs), perceived exertion, and soreness. Collegiate men soccer players (n = 19) were monitored for 72 sessions (training: n = 53; matches: n = 19). Likert scale assessments (0-6) of lower body soreness were collected prior to each session, and ELs were collected using positional monitoring technology. Session rate of perceived exertion (sRPE-load) was calculated by multiplying perceived exertion values (Borg CR-10 Scale) by respective session duration to determine internal load. Multiple analyses of variance were used to determine differences in ELs across seasons (pre-season, in-season, post-season) and sessions (training, match). Bivariate Pearson correlation coefficients and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate relationships among soreness, ELs, and sRPE-load. Greatest ELs were observed during pre-season and post-season phases (p < 0.001). Sessions with high perceived exertion and low soreness were associated with higher ELs (p < 0.05). Duration (t = 16.13), total distance (t = 9.17), sprint distance (t = 7.54), player load (t = 4.22), top speed (t = 4.69), and acceleration (t = 2.02) positively predicted sRPE-load (F = 412.9, p < 0.001, R2 = 0.75). Soreness was weakly and trivially correlated with ELs (p < 0.05). The very strong relationship between ELs and sRPE-load highlights the utility of sRPE-load as a practical means to estimate workload; however, more research into the relationship between soreness and workload is warranted.

Comparison of Match External Loads across a Men's and Women's Lacrosse Season.

The purpose of this study was to compare external workloads between collegiate men's (MLAX) and women's lacrosse (WLAX) matches and examine positional differences across the season. Athletes (MLAX: n = 10; WLAX: n = 13) wore a global positional system device during all matches. External load metrics included in the analysis were total distance (TD), sprint distance (SD), accelerations (>3 m/s2), sprint efforts, player load per minute (PL/min), top speed, and distances spent in various speed zones. WLAX had higher TD (p = 0.001), SD (p < 0.001), distances in SZs 2-5 (p < 0.001), PL (p < 0.001), and sprint efforts (p < 0.001) compared to MLAX. However, MLAX performed more acceleration (p < 0.001) and deceleration (p < 0.001) efforts. WLAX midfielders (M) and defenders (D) reached higher top speeds and performed more accelerations than attackers (p < 0.001). Midfielders covered the greatest distance at high speeds (p = 0.011) and the smallest distance at low speeds (<0.001) for WLAX. For MLAX, midfielders performed the highest SDs, top speeds, accelerations, decelerations, and distances in higher speed zones (p < 0.001) compared to attackers and defenders. Results indicate that there are significant gender and positional differences in external workload demands during match play, specifically for volume- and intensity-derived workload parameters, between men's and women's lacrosse. Therefore, sports performance coaches should create gender- and position-specific conditioning programs to prepare athletes for match demands.

Comparative analysis of the burnout syndrome index between contract and freelance physiotherapists: An observational study.

BACKGROUND: Burnout syndrome has been extensively studied in different health science professions. It has been less studied in physiotherapy than in professions such as medicine. Moreover, it is not known how the working condition influences this syndrome. OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this study was to compare the burnout index between contract and freelance physiotherapists in the private sector in the Community of Madrid, Spain. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed with 174 participants divided into 2 groups; one group was composed of contract physiotherapists (n = 87) and the other group was composed of freelance physiotherapists (n = 87). A Mann-Whitney U test was performed for comparison between the groups. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlations between the burnout syndrome index and the secondary variables. RESULTS: There were statistically significant differences when comparing the groups, with a large effect size for the burnout index with a higher rate among contract physiotherapists (78 [71-84.75]) than in freelance physiotherapists (61.5 [55-72.75]).There were also significant differences in the type of patients treated, number of patients treated per day, time spent per patient, and the annual salary range between the contract and freelance physiotherapists. CONCLUSION: Contract physiotherapists who participated in this study had a significantly higher burnout syndrome index than freelance physiotherapists. Other socio-occupational variables were also found to be related to the burnout syndrome index in freelance physiotherapists and contract physiotherapists. The results of this study could be of interest for new occupational health strategies to reduce the burnout index in contract physiotherapists.

The impact of pandemics on healthcare providers' workloads: A scoping review.

AIMS: To review and synthesize available evidence exploring the impact of pandemics on direct healthcare providers' workloads in the acute care setting. DESIGN: Scoping review. DATA SOURCES: A review of English research articles published up to August 2022 that examined the impact of pandemics on healthcare providers' workloads was undertaken. Studies were identified by searching four electronic databases: Medline (EBSCO), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science and PsychInfo (EBSCO). Fifty-five studies met the inclusion criteria. REVIEW METHODS: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Scoping Review checklist. RESULTS: Healthcare workers experience an increase in workload pressures during a pandemic. This included patients requiring more care, undertaking non-normal work activities, increase in work content including changes to documentation, increase in demand and skills required, an increase in overtime and hours of work per week and higher patient-to-nurse ratios. The review also highlighted changes to the work environment and worsened work environments, including staffing shortages. CONCLUSION: Focused efforts from health organizations to prioritize supportive conditions, policies focused on improved work environments, staffing adequacy and fair and reasonable workloads will enhance retention of the current workforce and future planning for pandemics. IMPACT: Understanding workload challenges faced by frontline health professionals during the pandemic can improve planning, including policies and procedures, and resource allocation for future pandemic or emergency situations. In addition, extended periods of high workloads can impact staff retention. As many countries return to life after COVID-19, it is important that healthcare organizations examine staff pressures and identify ways to support staff moving forward. This will be vital for the future sustainability of the workforce. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution.

Infection prevention and control between legal requirements and German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology expert assessments: a cross-sectional study in September-November 2022.

BACKGROUND: In contrast to the beginning of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), pandemic, more and more hospital issues are now regulated by policy. AIM: To identify differences between expert recommendations and legal requirements regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted between 29th September 2022 and 3rd November 2022 addressing 1319 members of the German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology. The response rate was 12%. This paper reports the expert recommendations on different IPC strategies. FINDINGS: The majority (66%) of experts recommended universal mask usage, with 34% recommending it seasonally, even after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Medical microbiology (MM) experts were more likely to recommend continuing to wear the masks indefinitely compared with IPC experts. Concerning the mask type, medical masks were recommended more frequently by IPC experts (47.3%), while FFP2 masks were preferred by MM experts (31.8%). The majority (54.7%) of experts recommended universal screening of employees, mainly in settings with extremely vulnerable patients and if regional incidence rates were high, at a frequency of twice per week. The dominant advice (recommended by at least 50% of experts) for employees exposed to SARS-CoV-2 was daily testing and wearing a mask, regardless of the length of exposure. CONCLUSIONS: Expert recommendations deviate from the legal requirements and appear to be more differentiated and proportional. The influence of specific experience and expertise on mask recommendations should be investigated in more detail. For relevant policy decisions, a quick, focused and broad-based consultation of expertise could be of added value.

Cargas de trabalho de profissionais técnico-administrativos de uma instituição pública de ensino superior / Workloads of technical-administrative professionals at a public institution of higher education

Resumo: A saúde do trabalhador tem se deparado com novos desafios advindos, por exemplo, da pandemia da covid-19 e da indústria 4.0, o que implica na inevitabilidade de refletir sobre as cargas de trabalho nesse contexto. A dissertação que se segue tem como objetivo analisar as cargas de trabalho presentes no processo laboral dos técnico-administrativos de uma instituição pública de ensino superior no contexto da pandemia da covid-19. Sugere-se também reconhecer as estratégias utilizadas para o enfrentamento dessas cargas no meio laboral. Trata-se de uma pesquisa do tipo exploratória e descritiva, de natureza qualitativa. O estudo se dá na região sul do Brasil. Para esse fim, propõe-se a criação e testagem de um instrumento para identificar as cargas de trabalho que podem causar impactos negativos ou desgaste desses trabalhadores. Os pesquisadores Asa Laurell e Mariano Noriega (1989) orientam o referencial teórico do estudo, a partir do conceito de Cargas de Trabalho, classificadas em físicas, químicas, biológicas, mecânicas, fisiológicas e psíquicas. A coleta de dados se estabelece a partir da aplicação do instrumento criado, um questionário aplicado por meio de entrevista (presencial ou online), com 31 técnico-administrativos que exercem o cargo de secretário(a) nas coordenações de cursos de graduação de uma universidade pública federal. O tratamento dos dados se dá com base na Análise de Conteúdo Temática de Laurence Bardin (2016), com a proposição de duas categorias finais: a primeira sobre o reconhecimento das cargas de trabalho dos técnico-administrativos. Nessa categoria são apresentadas as cargas de trabalho que causam ou podem gerar algum tipo de desgaste nos trabalhadores. O percurso de investigação mostra que as cargas mais reconhecidas pelos trabalhadores pesquisados, a partir de sua percepção do processo de trabalho, são as psíquicas e fisiológicas, com atenção para as condições ergonômicas do trabalho. A segunda categoria, sobre as estratégias individuais e coletivas utilizadas por esses trabalhadores para o enfrentamento das cargas de trabalho, evidencia que os técnico-administrativos utilizam mecanismos individuais e coletivos como medidas protetivas contra os agravos decorrentes do labor, porém esses fatores de proteção requerem aprimoramento. Esses achados corroboram com o que traz a literatura sobre a presença dessas cargas nos ambientes de trabalho, principalmente nas áreas de prestação de serviços e atendimento a pessoas. Uma vez reconhecida a existência das cargas de trabalho, pode-se propor medidas de promoção à saúde e prevenção de doenças dos técnico-administrativos.

Abstract: Worker's health has faced new challenges arising, for example, the covid-19 pandemic and Health 4.0, which implies the inevitability of reflecting on workloads in this context. Therefore, the following dissertation aims to analyze the workloads present in the work process of administrative technicians at a public institution of higher education in the context of the covid-19 pandemic. It is also suggested to recognize the strategies used to face these workloads in the work environment. This is an exploratory and descriptive research, with a qualitative nature. The study takes place in the southern region of Brazil. This academic work proposes the creation and testing of an instrument (questionnaire) to identify the workloads that can cause negative impacts or cause wear on these Workers. Researchers Asa Laurell and Mariano Noriega (1989) guide the theoretical framework of the study, based on the concept of Workloads, classified as physical, chemical, biological, mechanical, physiological and psychological. For the data collection, the questionnaire was applied through interviews (in person or online), with 31 administrative technicians who work as secretary in the coordination of undergraduate courses at a federal public university. Data treatment is based on Laurence Bardin's Thematic Content Analysis (2016), with the proposition of two final categories: the first one is the recognition of administrative technical workers workloads. This category presents the workloads that cause or may generate some type of wear on workers. The investigation shows that the workloads most recognized by the surveyed, based on their perception of the work process, are psychic and physiological, with attention to the ergonomic conditions of work. The second category, about the individual and collective strategies used by these workers to handle with workloads, shows that the administrative technical workers use individual and collective mechanisms as protective measures against the damage resulting from work, but these protection factors require improvement. These findings corroborate with what the literature brings about the presence of these loads in work environments, especially in the areas of service provision and assistance to people. Once the existence of workloads is recognized, measures can be proposed to promote health and prevent diseases for these administrative technical workers.

The Effects of Routinization on Radical and Incremental Creativity: The Mediating Role of Mental Workloads.

An important question within the creativity literature is whether routinization inhibits individuals' creative performance. Scholars have concentrated on complex and demanding jobs that promote creativity while ignoring the potential effects of routinized activities on creativity. Moreover, little is known about the impact of routinization on creativity, and the few studies investigating this matter have reported inconclusive and inconsistent results. This study investigates the mixed impacts of routinization on creativity by examining whether routinization has a direct impact on two dimensions of creativity or an indirect impact through the mediating role of mental workloads, such as mental effort load, time load, and psychological stress load. Based on multisource and time-lagged data from 213 employee-supervisor dyads, we found a positive direct effect of routinization on incremental creativity. In addition, routinization had both an indirect effect on radical creativity via time load and on incremental creativity via mental effort load. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Working safety and workloads of Chinese delivery riders: the role of work pressure.

Using a sample of 9133 food delivery riders from T, a Chinese food delivery platform, this study applies a binary probit model to analyse influences of food delivery riders' workloads on the incidence of occupational injuries using self-control theory. We have found that food delivery riders' quantity of weekly orders delivered has an inverted U-shaped correlation with occupational injuries and those who rely heavily on platform income have a lower risk of injuries than those who rely less on platform income. After handling the problems of endogenous and missing variables through an instrumental variable method and robustness test, the conclusion is still robust. Moreover, work pressure is a mediator for workload influence on occupational injuries, but the platform safety training is not a boundary condition, for possible lacking in contents of workload control. Individuals with the experience of occupational injuries are less willing to continue working as food delivery riders.

Relationship between somatic symptoms with menstruation and intention to leave work among university hospital nurses in Japan: a cross-sectional study.

PURPOSE: This study investigated the association between menstrual symptoms and the intention to leave work among female nurses in Japan. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated female nurses (n = 317) at two university hospitals. The items measured were their characteristics (e.g., age, body mass index), "intention to leave" work, somatic symptoms related with menstruation, self-reported menstrual characteristics (e.g., pain), physical workloads (e.g., working hours and night shifts) and psychological workloads, measured with the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI), and the Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ). Participants with at least four somatic symptoms (e.g., cold, fatigue) which are present during their menstrual cycles were considered to have "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation." We also measured serum ovarian and gonadotropin-releasing hormones. RESULTS: Approximately 40% of women answered "intention to leave" work, and 17% had "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation." Multiple logistic regression analysis suggested that nurses reporting "somatic symptoms associated with menstruation" were more likely to have "intention to leave" work: the adjusted odds ratios (AOR, 95% confidence interval [CI]) were 2.15 (1.12-4.11) in the personal-burnout model, 2.23 (1.16-4.31) in the work-related burnout model, 2.91 (1.52-5.56) in the client-related burnout model; 2.96 (1.50-5.82) in the JCQ model. There was no association between serum and gonadotropin hormones and the intention to leave. CONCLUSION: Somatic symptoms with menstruation were associated with intention to leave work among female Japanese nurses. Intervention for somatic symptoms with menstruation might support nurses to continue work.

Analysis of Work Related Factors, Behavior, Well-Being Outcome, and Job Satisfaction of Workers of Emergency Medical Service: A Systematic Review.

BACKGROUND: The workloads of emergency medical service personnel (EMS) are varied. In the absence of recovery, health consequences can result. The aim of this review was to analyze the literature on the associations between psychosocial or physical work factors on one hand and the well-being outcomes and job satisfaction on the other hand. METHODS: A systematic literature review examining the workloads, behavior, and well-being of EMS including emergency physicians, in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement for the reporting systematic reviews, was performed. The PubMed, Ovid Medline, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Psyndex, and Embase electronic databases were used. RESULTS: Thirty-three studies were included. These were divided into studies that predominantly focused on the behavior (6), stress and strain (22), and well-being (5) of EMS. Only four studies also examined emergency physicians. The studies indicated a high prevalence of psychological and physical stress factors. Burnout and posttraumatic stress disorders have been the most studied consequences of mismatched stress. The health status variable performs better in conjunction with higher qualifications. Age is not a protective variable in some studies. CONCLUSIONS: EMS workloads are varied and must be assessed on an individual basis. Studies on emergency physicians are needed. Organizational and personal measures must become the focus of health promotion and prevention in the workplace.

Trend in radiologist workload compared to number of admissions in the emergency department.

INTRODUCTION: Recent years have shown an increase in radiologists' workload, both during regular working hours and during on-call. We aimed to quantify the 8-year trend in on-call workload in a large tertiary academic medical center, and to compare the workload growth rate to emergency department (ED) visits growth rate during the same period. METHODS: The number of computed tomography (CT) studies during on-call hours (weekdays between 3.00 p.m. and 8.00 a.m., and weekends) between 2012 and 2019 was extracted from our hospital's Radiologic Information System. To estimate the on-call workload, all studies were converted to relative value units (RVUs) using the US Medicare physician reimbursement tables. The Kendall's tau b test was used to assess the temporal trend. RESULTS: Overall, on-call CT RVUs increased by 52% (Kendall's tau b = 0.776, p = 0.001) while ED visit rate grew by 23% with a weaker correlation coefficient (Kendall's tau b = 0.323, p = 0.009). RVUs of brain CT, the most prevalent examination type, increased by 33%, while abdominal CT, the second most prevalent examination, increased by 70%. Thoracic-lumbar spine CT examinations increased by 1375% and head and neck CT angiography examinations (stroke protocol and CT-Venography) grew by 287%. CONCLUSIONS: Radiologists' on-call workload more than doubled the growth rate of ED visits over an 8-year period. Radiologists, radiographers and on-call ED workforce should be adjusted to accommodate these evolving changes to enhance quality and safety of patient care and to avoid caregivers' burnout.

Analysis of midwives' situation and the need to measure their workloads / Análise da situação das parteiras e a necessidade de medir suas cargas de trabalho / Análisis de la situación de las matronas y necesidad de medir sus cargas de trabajo

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze midwives' employment situation of midwives and detect their workload measurement needs. Methods: a mixed methodology (quantitative and qualitative), observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. Two phases were carried out. The first methodological phase consisted of conducting semi-structured individual interviews. The second methodological phase analyzed the Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) interventions that midwives perform in the labor room during daily practice. Results: 90.3% of midwives have work overload, since for 80.6% the midwife-pregnant mother ratio is not well established, since the mean execution time of a Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) intervention is 20 minutes. For this reason, 100% of the sample considers the development of workload measurement tools to be highly useful. Conclusions: the need to generate an instrument that considers the diversity of Nursing Intervention Classification (NIC) interventions that develop within the labor room is ratified.

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a situação laboral das parteiras e detectar suas necessidades de mensuração da carga de trabalho. Métodos: estudo de metodologia mista (quantitativa e qualitativa), observacional, descritivo e transversal. Duas fases foram realizadas. A primeira fase metodológica consistiu na realização de entrevistas individuais semiestruturadas. A segunda fase metodológica analisou as intervenções da Classificação de Intervenção de Enfermagem (NIC) que as parteiras realizam na sala de parto durante o dia de atendimento. Resultados: 90,3% das parteiras apresentam sobrecarga de trabalho, pois, para 80,6%, a relação obstetriz-gestante não está bem estabelecida, pois o tempo médio de execução de uma intervenção Classificação de Intervenção de Enfermagem (NIC) é de 20 minutos. Por esse motivo, 100% da amostra considera muito útil o desenvolvimento de ferramentas de medição de carga de trabalho. Conclusões: ratifica-se a necessidade de gerar um instrumento que considere a diversidade de intervenções Classificação de Intervenção de Enfermagem (NIC) que se desenvolvem na sala de parto.

RESUMEN Objetivo: Analizar la situación laboral de las matronas y detectar sus necesidades de medición de cargas de trabajo. Métodos: Estudio de metodología mixta (cuantitativo y cualitativo), observacional, descriptivo y transversal. Se realizaron dos fases: La primera fase metodológica, consistió en la realización de entrevistas individuales semiestructuradas. Y en la segunda fase metodológica, se analizaron las intervenciones de enfermería (NIC) que las matronas efectúan en paritorio durante su jornada asistencial. Resultados: El 90,3% de las matronas presentan sobrecarga en el trabajo, pues para el 80,6% el ratio matrona- gestante no se encuentra bien establecido; pues tiempo medio de ejecución de una intervención de enfermería (NIC), es de 20 minutos. Por ello, el 100% de la muestra considera de máxima utilidad el desarrollo de herramientas de medición de cargas de trabajo. Conclusiones: Se ratifica la necesidad de generar un instrumento que considere la diversidad de intervenciones de enfermería (NIC) que desarrollan dentro del paritorio.

Nurses' Experience of Nursing Workload-Related Issues during Caring Patients with Dementia: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis.

The behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), which appear in all dementia patients, demand sizable commitments of time and effort from nurses. This study aims to identify issues related to the workloads of nurses who provide care for dementia patients via qualitative meta-synthesis. Eleven articles were selected using a systematic review flowchart, which were then evaluated for their quality using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program checklist. Collected data were analyzed using a line-of-argument method. Theme clusters were "increased workload due to characteristics of dementia", "increased mental stress", "difficulty associated with playing a mediator role in addition to nursing duties", and "lacking systematic support for dementia patient care". To reduce the workload and mental stress of nurses in dementia care, supportive measures appropriate for their occupational characteristics should be developed, based on workload estimates that account for the attributes of dementia patients.