Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers

Kübranur Yılmaz; Şule Ecevit Alpar; Derya Emre Yavuz

doi:10.55971/EJLS.1779965

Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers

Abstract

Brain fog was first described in the 1850s as a form of mental fatigue, particularly observed among individuals engaged in occupations requiring intensive cognitive effort. The present study aims to examine the occurrence of brain fog among healthcare professionals—who are required to perform multiple tasks simultaneously and make critical decisions—and to identify contributing factors through a review of the current literature. Accordingly, a traditional literature review was conducted by retrieving articles published between 2019 and 2025 from the PubMed database using the keywords “brain fog”, “cognitive impairment” and “mental fatigue”. Brain fog is characterized by forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, impaired multitasking ability, and diminished cognitive functioning. Healthcare professionals constitute one of the occupational groups most frequently exposed to brain fog. Physicians, nurses, and other healthcare personnel are subjected to various stressors and adverse working conditions that may precipitate brain fog, including time pressure, uncertainty in patient treatment and care processes, extended working hours and insufficient nutrition. Given that healthcare professionals are responsible for improving and maintaining individual health and quality of life, the experience of brain fog within this group poses risks to patient safety due to the cognitive symptoms it entails. Examining brain fog and its associated factors among healthcare professionals is essential for implementing preventive strategies, enhancing the quality of patient care, minimizing errors during clinical practice, and improving job satisfaction and quality of life among healthcare personnel. Furthermore, investigations may provide a foundation for developing evidence-based strategies to mitigate brain fog in healthcare settings.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

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Ethical Statement

Not applicable, because this article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects.

Thanks

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References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Clinical Sciences (Other), Preventative Health Care

Journal Section

Review Article

Authors

Kübranur Yılmaz ^*
0009-0002-5408-3852
Türkiye

Şule Ecevit Alpar
0000-0003-0951-0106
Türkiye

Derya Emre Yavuz
0000-0001-6392-7952
Türkiye

Publication Date

December 31, 2025

Submission Date

September 9, 2025

Acceptance Date

November 12, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 4 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.55971/EJLS.1779965

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA66HK73DS

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Yılmaz, K., Ecevit Alpar, Ş., & Emre Yavuz, D. (2025). Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers. European Journal of Life Sciences, 4(3), 184-192. https://doi.org/10.55971/EJLS.1779965

AMA

1.Yılmaz K, Ecevit Alpar Ş, Emre Yavuz D. Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers. Eur J Life Sci. 2025;4(3):184-192. doi:10.55971/EJLS.1779965

Chicago

Yılmaz, Kübranur, Şule Ecevit Alpar, and Derya Emre Yavuz. 2025. “Brain Fog and Affecting Factors in Health Care Workers”. European Journal of Life Sciences 4 (3): 184-92. https://doi.org/10.55971/EJLS.1779965.

EndNote

Yılmaz K, Ecevit Alpar Ş, Emre Yavuz D (December 1, 2025) Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers. European Journal of Life Sciences 4 3 184–192.

IEEE

[1]K. Yılmaz, Ş. Ecevit Alpar, and D. Emre Yavuz, “Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers”, Eur J Life Sci, vol. 4, no. 3, pp. 184–192, Dec. 2025, doi: 10.55971/EJLS.1779965.

ISNAD

Yılmaz, Kübranur - Ecevit Alpar, Şule - Emre Yavuz, Derya. “Brain Fog and Affecting Factors in Health Care Workers”. European Journal of Life Sciences 4/3 (December 1, 2025): 184-192. https://doi.org/10.55971/EJLS.1779965.

JAMA

1.Yılmaz K, Ecevit Alpar Ş, Emre Yavuz D. Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers. Eur J Life Sci. 2025;4:184–192.

MLA

Yılmaz, Kübranur, et al. “Brain Fog and Affecting Factors in Health Care Workers”. European Journal of Life Sciences, vol. 4, no. 3, Dec. 2025, pp. 184-92, doi:10.55971/EJLS.1779965.

Vancouver

1.Kübranur Yılmaz, Şule Ecevit Alpar, Derya Emre Yavuz. Brain fog and affecting factors in health care workers. Eur J Life Sci. 2025 Dec. 1;4(3):184-92. doi:10.55971/EJLS.1779965