Studying the relationship between surgeons' mental workload and their productivity: validating the "Surgeon-TLX" tool in Iranian surgeons.

Background and Objectives: The importance of surgical jobs and their high workload is known to many researchers. Until now, various studies have used the NASA TLX for measuring the workload of surgeons. The present study seeks to investigate the relationship between the mental workload of surgeons and their productivity through the validation of specialized tools for this job in Iranian culture. Method: This study was conducted in two phases. In the first layer, the validity and reliability of the "SURG-TLX" tool and the productivity tool approved by the World Health Organization were examined. Then, these tools were used in a field study to investigate the relationship between surgeons' workload and their productivity (WHO-HPQ tool). Content validity indices and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used for the first part of the study and Spearman's correlation coefficient was used for the field phase. Results: The results showed that both tools with the same structure and the same number of questions have acceptable validity and reliability in Iranian culture. Thus, the mental workload tool of surgeons has 6 dimensions. Also, the productivity tool has 11 questions in 3 different dimensions. The relationship of subscales of mental workload with different dimensions of productivity in surgeons was investigated, and the results showed that the relationship of all dimensions was in indirect way with each other. Conclusion: The surgeons' workload tool, which was investigated for the first time in Iranian culture, had favorable validity and reliability indices. Therefore, it can be used in future studies in Iran. At the same time, the results showed that due to the indirect relationship between workload and productivity in surgeons, measures can be taken so that their workload does not exceed the standard limit so that their productivity is not harmed.