This study investigates the factors contributing to cognitive load among emergency medicine physicians at the Medical University of South Carolina's Main Emergency Department during clinical shifts and identifies those with the greatest impact.

Cognitive load will be measured before and after shifts using a validated survey tool, while corresponding heart rate metrics will be recorded and voluntarily shared throughout and immediately following each shift via personal smartwatches. These physiological and survey data will then be analyzed in the context of clinical events occurring during the shift to assess how specific experiences influence overall cognitive load.

The events under consideration were selected based on findings from a prior study in which MUSC emergency medicine physicians ranked the perceived contributors to their cognitive load. The occurrence of these predetermined events will be documented through direct observation of physicians during shifts and, if applicable, obtained via shift-level operational reports.