Assessment of mental workload in aeromedical transport in Brazil during the COVID19 pandemic

Abstract

© 2022 ESREL2022 Organizers. Published by Research Publishing, Singapore.Air transport demand for patients increased significantly in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic. This occurred because hospitals were overcrowded in some regions, and patients needed to be moved over the country’s continental distances. The transport of patients with infectious diseases leads to an increased crew’s mental and physical overload due to the care provided to critically ill patients, utilization of complete personal protective equipment, and fear of contamination. To assess the mental workload levels under these conditions, health professionals involved with the air transport of patients with COVID-19 from the Brazilian Air Force were asked to answer questionnaires about flight missions performed, the patients’ clinical status, and the NASA-TLX questionnaire. Nine healthcare professionals participated in the survey. The NASA-TLX questionnaire’s outcomes were analyzed and compared according to transport time, the number of patients transported, and the patient’s clinical status. Transport with unstable patients showed the highest final weighted rating, and the most significant NASA-TLX dimensions were mental demand and reported frustration.

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