Methods and Instruments to Measure ICU Healthcare Professionals' Workload Related to Medical Technology—Protocol for a Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: Healthcare systems increasingly adopt medical technologies in direct patient care, particularly in highly technological environments like intensive care units (ICUs). While these technologies aim to enhance clinical outcomes, they can also introduce complexities that affect healthcare professionals' workload. Measuring workload related to the use of medical technology is crucial to ensure technologies support rather than hinder care delivery. Workload in this context encompasses temporal demands, subtask frequency and cognitive demands—distinct from scoring systems determining staffing ratios. Aim: To identify methods and instruments to measure ICU healthcare professionals' workload during direct patient care activities involving medical technology. Study Design: We will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines, using narrative synthesis to summarise findings. Electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, ISI Web of Science, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform and Google Scholar will be searched for studies published 2010–2025 reporting primary data. Exclusion criteria: paediatric population, editorials, letters and patient-based scoring systems (e.g., Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System–76; Nursing Activities Score). Two reviewers will independently screen records and extract data using standardised forms. Reporting quality will be assessed using a self-developed tool. Findings will be presented in a flowchart, tables and figures. Relevance to Clinical Practice: This review will provide a comprehensive overview of workload measurement methods during direct patient care activities involving medical technology in ICUs, serving as a practical resource for evaluating the workload impact of existing and emerging technologies. Review Registration: Open Science Framework, registered on 26th of September 2024 (registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/2A97J, https://osf.io/2a97j/).