ArticleBMC nursing2023
Workflow interruption and nurses' mental workload in electronic health record tasks: An observational study.
Article in BMC nursing, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 35 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
35 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Nurses' Adherence to Double-Checking: A Systematic Review of Influencing Factors, Improvement Strategies, and Their Effectiveness.International nursing review · 2026Pooled it
- Workload, missed nursing care, ethical climate, and work interruptions among emergency department registered nurses: A descriptive-analytical study.International journal of nursing studies advances · 2026Article
- Subjective Workload and Cognitive Failure Among Emergency Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Mediation Analysis of Job Content and Job Burnout.Nursing open · 2026Article
- The Impact of Digital Transformation on Nursing Professional Experience: Critical Interpretive Synthesis Review Developing the Fragmented Professional Transition in Nursing (FPT-N) Model.Asian/Pacific Island nursing journal · 2026Review
- Article
- Exploring Factors Influencing Nursing Task Prioritization for Supportive Information System Design: Qualitative Study With Thematic Analysis.JMIR human factors · 2026Article
- Secure Messaging Workload and the Effect of an Enhanced Workflow Intervention Among Hospitalist Clinicians.Journal of general internal medicine · 2026Article
- Turbulence in Nursing-A Conceptual and Contextual Exploration.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2026Article
- Article
- Technostress Creators and Inhibitors: Dual Impacts on Nurses' Psychological and Work Outcomes.Nursing open · 2026Article
- Associations Between Interruptions and Medication Administration Errors Among Nurses in Hospital Settings: A Scoping Review of Quantitative Studies.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Article
- Article
- Network Architecture of Digital Leadership: Identifying Affective Commitment Bridges and Intervention Leverage Points Among Chinese Nursing Managers.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- Actual Scope of Nursing Practice and the Influencing Factors: A Single-Center Cross-Sectional Study in China.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- The Impact of Workflow Interruptions, Work Readiness, and Missed Nursing Care on Patient Safety Competency Among New Nurses: A Multicenter Longitudinal Study.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- Perceived Nursing Interruptions During Medication Administration: Development and Validation of a Questionnaire Among Chinese Nurses.Journal of nursing management · 2026Article
- Hospital Digital Transformation, Nursing Data Burden, and Leadership and Governance Capacity: A Critical Narrative Review.Journal of nursing management · 2026Review
- Passive AI Detection of Stress and Burnout Among Frontline Workers.Nursing reports (Pavia, Italy) · 2025Review
- Use of Gamified Digital Tools in Daily Tasks of Health Care Workers: Scoping Review.JMIR serious games · 2025Review
- Behavioral factors affecting data quality and information utilization in health facilities in ethiopia, 2023: an exploratory qualitative study.Archives of public health = Archives belges de sante publique · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundWorkflow interruptions are common in modern work systems. Electronic health record (EHR) tasks are typical tasks involving human-machine interactions in nursing care, but few studies have examined interruptions and nurses' mental workload in the tasks. Therefore, this study aims to investigate how frequent interruptions and multilevel factors affect nurses' mental workload and performance in EHR tasks.
methodsA prospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital providing specialist and sub-specialist care from June 1
resultsIn 145 shift observations, 2871 interruptions occurred, and the mean task duration was 84.69 (SD 56.68) minutes per shift. The incidence of error or near error was 158, while 68.35% of errors were self-corrected. The total mean mental workload level was 44.57 (SD 14.08). A path analysis model with adequate fit indices is presented. There was a relationship among concurrent multitasking, task switching and task time. Task time, task difficulty and system usability had direct effects on mental workload. Task performance was influenced by mental workload and professional title. Negative affect mediated the path from task performance to mental workload.
conclusionsNursing interruptions occur frequently in EHR tasks, come from different sources and may lead to elevated mental workload and negative outcomes. By exploring the variables related to mental workload and performance, we offer a new perspective on quality improvement strategies. Reducing harmful interruptions to decrease task time can avoid negative outcomes. Training nurses to cope with interruptions and improve competency in EHR implementation and task operation has the potential to decrease nurses' mental workload and improve task performance. Moreover, improving system usability is beneficial to nurses to mitigate mental workload.
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