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Dr. Jill Byrne Dissertation.pdf (1.95 MB)

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Occupational Heat Stress May Impact Surgeons' Thermal Comfort, Body Temperature, and Cognitive Performance

Byrne, Jill
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1620764717903713

Abstract Details

2021, Doctor of Philosophy, Case Western Reserve University, Nursing.
Heat stress is a serious problems affecting surgeons in operating rooms where insulated surgical gowns and personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn. Heat stress is an increase in core body temperature and/or in mean skin temperature, which results from the total environmental, situational, and personal demands imposed on the surgeon and the surgeon’s inability to eliminate metabolic heat produced while wearing PPE. Little is known about the surgeons’ development of heat stress in real-time operating room conditions and the degree of increased body temperature and thermal discomfort sufficient to impair cognitive performance. The aims of study are to 1) describe the environmental, personal, and situational variables before and after surgery on two separate days, 2) describe the differences between the variables from pre- to post- operation each day of the study, and 3) determine the associations between the environmental, personal, and situational variables each day of the study. A one group pre-and-post correlational study of 30 orthopedic surgeons performing total-joint procedures expected to last between 90 to 150 minutes on two separate days during real-time surgical operations was conducted. The surgeons wore sensors to obtain core and skin temperatures, completed a cognitive battery test, rated thermal comfort pre- and post- operation as well as post- operation perceptions of sweat11 soaked clothing, exertion, and fatigue each day of study. Statistical analysis described the values, differences, and associations of the data collected pre- and post- operation. The surgeons’ core and mean skin temperatures increased ≥ 1⁰ C on both days of study. Cognitive test scores revealed an increase in processing speed scores and a decrease in visual memory scores. The surgeons’ perceptions of thermal comfort were significantly warmer after completing surgery. Overall, the associations of the variables in the study did indicate a number of meaningful relationships that warrant future research. The study provides information about the role that increased body temperature has on surgeons in real-time operating room environments. Interventions and standards are needed to improve thermal comfort and cognitive performance in operating rooms and other occupational settings where heat stress can impact the health and well-being of all personnel.
Susan M. Ludington-Hoe, Ph.D., RN, CNM, FAAN (Committee Chair)
Nora L. Nock, Ph.D., CE (Committee Member)
Christopher Burant , Ph.D., MACTM (Committee Member)
Joachim Voss, Ph.D., RN, ACRN (Committee Member)
127 p.
Environmental Health; Health Care; Nursing; Occupational Health; Occupational Safety; Physiology; Psychology
Cognitive performance, heat stress, occupational heat stress, personal protective equipment, thermal comfort, surgeons, surgical personnel

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Byrne, J. (2021). Occupational Heat Stress May Impact Surgeons' Thermal Comfort, Body Temperature, and Cognitive Performance [Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1620764717903713

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Byrne, Jill. Occupational Heat Stress May Impact Surgeons' Thermal Comfort, Body Temperature, and Cognitive Performance. 2021. Case Western Reserve University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1620764717903713.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Byrne, Jill. "Occupational Heat Stress May Impact Surgeons' Thermal Comfort, Body Temperature, and Cognitive Performance." Doctoral dissertation, Case Western Reserve University, 2021. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=case1620764717903713

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

case1620764717903713
140
© 2021, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Case Western Reserve University School of Graduate Studies and OhioLINK.