Developing the Standardized Workload Assessment Metric for Pediatric Emergency Departments: Initial Steps Using a Modified Delphi Method.

Objectives: We aimed to develop a comprehensive list of patient care components performed by pediatric emergency department (PED) physicians that could be individually scored on their subjective workload using the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Task Load Index (NASA-TLX). These "care components," alongside patient and environmental factors that influence workload ("modifiers"), will form the basis of the Standardized Workload Assessment Metric for Pediatric Emergency Departments (SWAMPED). We sought to obtain preliminary workload scores for each care component and assess the face validity of the NASA-TLX-derived workload tool.

Methods: After establishing a working list of "care elements" and modifiers, we convened an expert panel during a 3-day workshop to curate a comprehensive list of PED patient care components and modifiers affecting physician workload using a modified Delphi process. Experts completed a pilot version of the NASA-TLX-derived workload survey for each care component. A virtual follow-up was held 5 months after the initial meeting to finalize the list of modifiers and care components.

Results: Of the 93 initial care elements and 75 modifiers, 46 care components were retained, alongside 6 final modifiers. Preliminary workload scores showed "high acuity, low occurrence procedures (cricothyroidotomy, thoracotomy, pericardiocentesis, burr hole, etc.)," with the highest median workload score of 106, while "immobilization device simple (prefabricated)" had the lowest median workload score of 22.

Conclusions: The SWAMPED, derived through expert consensus, holds promise as a standardized assessment tool for PED physician workload. Validation studies involving larger cohorts are crucial for refining the SWAMPED and allowing widespread adoption of this novel quantitative workload metric.