The Mediating Role of Workload in the Effect of Digital Fatigue on Employee Performance

Abstract

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of digital fatigue on employee performance in healthcare and to reveal the mediating role of workload in this relationship. The rapid spread of digitalization in the healthcare sector creates new cognitive and psychological demands on employees; this has significant consequences in terms of performance outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to contribute to the literature by addressing the relationships between digital fatigue, workload, and performance within a holistic framework. A quantitative method was adopted in the research, and data were collected through surveys from 630 healthcare workers working in the Western Black Sea Region. The validity and reliability of the measurement model were tested with PLS-SEM analysis; hypotheses were evaluated through structural modeling. The findings show that digital fatigue has a negative and significant effect on employee performance (β = −0.41; p < 0.001). It was determined that all sub-dimensions of digital fatigue negatively affect performance (β values ​​ranged from −0.25 to −0.34). Furthermore, it was found that digital fatigue increased workload (β = 0.37; p < 0.001), and workload decreased performance (β = −0.37; p < 0.001). Mediation analysis revealed that workload played a partial mediating role in the relationship between digital fatigue and performance (indirect effect β = −0.14; p < 0.001). This study contributes to the literature by presenting a holistic model explaining healthcare worker performance by considering digital fatigue and workload together. In addition, the findings offer important practical implications for healthcare managers regarding improving employee performance through managing digital demands and balancing workload.

Keywords

• Digital fatigue
• workload
• employee performance
• healthcare professionals

Dijital Yorgunluğun Çalışan Performansı Üzerindeki Etkisinde İş Yükünün Aracı Rolü

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, sağlık hizmetlerinde dijital yorgunluğun çalışan performansı üzerindeki etkisini incelemek ve bu ilişkide iş yükünün aracı rolünü ortaya koymaktır. Dijitalleşmenin sağlık sektöründe hızla yaygınlaşması, çalışanlar üzerinde yeni bilişsel ve psikolojik talepler oluşturmakta; bu durum performans çıktıları açısından önemli sonuçlar doğurmaktadır. Bu nedenle çalışma, dijital yorgunluk, iş yükü ve performans arasındaki ilişkileri bütüncül bir çerçevede ele alarak literatüre katkı sağlamayı hedeflemektedir. Araştırmada nicel yöntem benimsenmiş ve veriler Batı Karadeniz Bölgesi’nde görev yapan 630 sağlık çalışanından anket yoluyla toplanmıştır. Ölçüm modelinin geçerlilik ve güvenirliği PLS-SEM analizi ile test edilmiş; yapısal model aracılığıyla hipotezler değerlendirilmiştir. Elde edilen bulgular, dijital yorgunluğun çalışan performansı üzerinde negatif ve anlamlı bir etkiye sahip olduğunu göstermektedir (β = −0,41; p < 0,001). Dijital yorgunluğun tüm alt boyutlarının performansı olumsuz etkilediği belirlenmiştir (β değerleri −0,25 ile −0,34 arasında). Ayrıca dijital yorgunluğun iş yükünü artırdığı (β = 0,37; p < 0,001), iş yükünün ise performansı düşürdüğü (β = −0,37; p < 0,001) tespit edilmiştir. Aracılık analizi, iş yükünün dijital yorgunluk ile performans arasındaki ilişkide kısmi aracı rol oynadığını ortaya koymaktadır (dolaylı etki β = −0,14; p < 0,001). Bu çalışma, dijital yorgunluk ve iş yükünü birlikte ele alarak sağlık çalışan performansını açıklayan bütüncül bir model sunması bakımından literatüre katkı sağlamaktadır. Ayrıca bulgular, sağlık yöneticilerine dijital taleplerin yönetimi ve iş yükünün dengelenmesi yoluyla çalışan performansının artırılmasına yönelik önemli uygulama çıkarımları sunmaktadır.

Keywords

• Dijital yorgunluk
• iş yükü
• çalışan performansı
• sağlık çalışanları

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