Cognitive load of anesthesia nurses across anesthesia phases
Official title: Carga Cognitiva Intraoperatoria Del Enfermero/a de Anestesia Según la Fase Del Acto Anestésico: Estudio Observacional Con NASA-TLX
Run by Hospital Clinic of Barcelona · NCT07568158 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how hard anesthesia nurses feel they are working during different parts of surgery and under different anesthesia types to see if workload changes with phase, technique, or case complexity.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Hospital Clinic of Barcelona Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Barcelona, Catalonia) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | June 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | February 28, 2027 |
| Study ends | February 28, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | July 13, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07568158 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Registered nurse anesthetists at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona with at least 3 months in their role and scheduled surgeries lasting 30 minutes or more.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients themselves are not participants; the findings target staff workload and may not directly benefit every individual patient.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an observational study conducted at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona to measure anesthesia nurses' cognitive load using the NASA-TLX questionnaire at three points during each case: after induction or spinal block, during maintenance, and after awakening. It compares cognitive load between general anesthesia and spinal anesthesia with sedation and explores how surgical specialty, patient complexity, and alarm perception relate to workload. The study uses a validated subjective tool to quantify mental effort in real operative settings, focusing on routine and complex cases, including solid organ transplantation when applicable. Data will be collected without altering clinical care, with participation requiring informed consent. This represents an early European effort to quantify intraoperative mental workload in anesthesia nursing in real-world practice.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, results could highlight when cognitive load is highest and inform efforts to improve monitoring, alarm design, and staffing to enhance patient safety.
How similar studies have gone: Existing studies mostly use simulations; this is a real-world European assessment of cognitive load with a validated tool, offering novel insights at the bedside.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Registered nurse anesthetist actively working at Hospital Clínic de Barcelona. * Minimum 3 months in the current anesthesia nursing position. * Voluntary participation with signed informed consent. * Scheduled surgery (including deferred urgent surgery) or solid organ transplantation. * General anesthesia (endotracheal intubation or laryngeal mask airway) or spinal anesthesia with sedation. * Minimum duration of 30 minutes. Exclusion Criteria: * Refusal to participate or withdrawal of informed consent. * Spinal anesthesia without sedation. * Exclusive regional anesthesia without sedation. * Sedation alone without regional technique. * Duration less than 30 minutes. * Cases involving an unexpected intraoperative emergency requiring urgent additional personnel. * Cases started under spinal anesthesia converted to general anesthesia for any clinical or technical reason.
Where it's running
-
Hospital Clínic de Barcelona
Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc — Hospital Clinic of Barcelona
- Study coordinator: Victor Caro-Frechilla, RN, MSc
- Email: vcaro@clinic.cat
- Phone: +34 633809919
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.