Abstract: (49 Views)
Mental fatigue, a common challenge among healthcare workers during long shifts, may affect how individuals perceive and adapt to their thermal environment. Employees experience thermal challenges due to varying levels of activity, protective equipment requirements, and the need to maintain harsh environmental conditions for patient care. The aim of the present study was to assess thermal comfort status and investigate the role of mental fatigue in predicting the likelihood of thermal adaptation in healthcare workers. This study was conducted using a controlled experimental design in the laboratory facilities of a specialized clinic located in Ilam city. The sample consisted of 20 medical personnel whose work environment was an underground laboratory. The participating groups were randomly divided into two experimental conditions, 1100 PPM CO2 exposure with mechanical ventilation and 1800 PPM CO2 without mechanical ventilation. Simultaneously, physiological parameters (heart rate) and assessment of thermal comfort (ASHRAE standard questionnaire) and fatigue (MFI standard questionnaire) were recorded. The first part of the findings was analyzed by fitting the logistic regression model and the second part of the findings was analyzed by two-way (bifactorial) analysis of variance in SPSS27 software. The logistic regression model analysis showed that the feeling of mental fatigue of the medical staff while performing work was significant at the one percent error level (P<0.05) and this variable had a significant effect on the probability of thermal adaptation of the medical staff (P<0.05). The variables of CO2 level (1100 PPM with mechanical ventilation and 1800 PPM without mechanical ventilation), cognitive function and heart rate did not have a significant effect on the probability of thermal adaptation (P>0.05). Based on two-way analysis of variance, the factor of carbon dioxide levels in the air had a significant effect on the feeling of thermal comfort of the medical staff (P<0.05). Also, the factor of gender of employees and the interaction effect of the factor levels of carbon dioxide levels in the air and gender of employees with the values of (F(1,16)=0.200, Sig=0.360 >0.05) and (F(1,16)=0.200, Sig=0.360 >0.05) respectively do not have a significant effect on the feeling of thermal comfort of employees of medical spaces (P>0.05). The results showed that mental fatigue affects the thermal adaptation of medical employees, while CO2 levels, cognitive function and heart rate do not affect them. In addition, CO2 levels affect thermal comfort, while gender and its interaction with CO2 levels do not affect them. Therefore, there is a need to assess thermal comfort and understand the role of mental fatigue in predicting the thermal adaptation of healthcare workers.
Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2025/08/31 | Revised: 2025/08/31 | Accepted: 2021/10/2 | ePublished ahead of print: 2025/08/31
Received: 2025/08/31 | Revised: 2025/08/31 | Accepted: 2021/10/2 | ePublished ahead of print: 2025/08/31
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