"Going Overboard": Cognitive Overload and Decreased Productivity in the Nuclear Medicine Workplace

Introduction: The presence of cognitive load impacts individuals in the performance of various tasks and issues with the execution of tasks and learning new things. This involves processing too much information at the same time.

Individuals with high cognitive loads may be less productive in the workplace. With increases in digital communications, overload and dependence on technology can lead to decreased productivity. In the post COVID remote workplace, workers may be involved in after hours work with more messaging and feedback via email. This is also associated with increased stress and anxiety of the workers.

We discuss the impace of cognitive overload in the nuclear medicine workplace,

Methods: In the nuclear medicine workplace, workers are exposed to increased amount of information, larger number of images in studies which can lead to more difficulty in focus and attention. Increasing communication inputs such as phone calls, emails, and SMS can cause issues with time management. Switching between newer technologies and feeling overwhelmed with employee resignation.

Mental challanging activities in nuclear medicine and increased workloads with newer technologies allow insuffient time to get work done. Workers with burnout may become less motivated, inability to function at high performance and health issues requiring recuperation.

Results: Detecting cognitive overload is the initial step to detect by managers as employees may underestimate their overload. Once detected, there are a variety of ways to help combat cognitive overload to maintain productivity in the workplace, and decreased health issues.

With increased numbers of meetings in the hybrid and virtual workplace, this may impact workflow and recuperation. Taking breaks and quiet time can help by decreasing stress and allow improved concentration. Post pandemic working at home allows the perception of increased pressures by eliminating boundries with working later hours and on the weekend. Work-rest boundries must be set. Decreasing the presence of constant interruption can also be helpful.

Conclusions: Optimizing the workplace experience, especially the post pandemic hybrid and remote models can help in boosting productivity and employee engagement. Increased cognitive load has an impact on problem-solving and performance.

There are various tools available to help manage cognitive load, However, some levels of mental effort remains important to understanding complex topics. The nuclear physician may be overwhelmed by increased cases and number of images, as well as new technology having too much information to process at once and the time given.

We discuss various methods to help decrease cognitive overload and increase productivity while decreasing potential errors in the nuclear medicine workplace.