BACKGROUND: Workflow interruptions, multitasking and workload demands are inherent to @entity341 ( @entity341 ) work systems. Potential effects of @entity341 providers' work on care quality and @entity1 safety have, however, been rarely addressed. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and associations of @entity341 staff's workflow interruptions, multitasking and workload with @entity1 care quality outcomes. METHODS: We applied a mixed-methods design in a two-step procedure. First, we conducted a time-motion study to observe the rate of interruptions and multitasking activities. Second, during 20-day shifts we assessed @entity341 staff's reports on workflow interruptions, multitasking activities and mental workload. Additionally, we assessed two care quality indicators with standardised questionnaires: first, @entity341 @entity1 ' evaluations of perceived care quality; second, @entity1 intrahospital transfers evaluated by ward staff. The study was conducted in a medium-sized community @entity341 (16   600 annual visits). RESULTS: @entity341 personnel's workflow was disrupted on average 5.63 times per hour. 30% of time was spent on multitasking activities. During 20 observations days, data were gathered from 76 @entity341 professionals, 239 @entity1 and 205 @entity1 transfers. After aggregating daywise data and controlling for staffing levels, prospective associations revealed significant negative associations between @entity341 personnel's mental workload and @entity1 ' perceived quality of care. Conversely, workflow interruptions were positively associated with @entity1 -related information on discharge and overall quality of transfer. CONCLUSIONS: Our investigation indicated that @entity341 staff's capability to cope with demanding work conditions was associated with @entity1 care quality. Our findings contribute to an improved understanding of the complex effects of interruptions and multitasking in the @entity341 environment for creating safe and efficient @entity341 work and care systems.

Work conditions, mental workload and XXXX care quality: a multisource study in the emergency department.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity341 :: ('MESH:D004630', 'Disease') :: ['emergency departments', 'ED']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['patient']
