Observational analysis finds increased fatigue and anxiety in clinicians due to prolonged virtual consultations, suggesting the need for ergonomic practices.
With the rapid shift to telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, clinicians have faced unprecedented demands in adapting to prolonged virtual consultations. This has given rise to “Zoom fatigue,” a form of mental and emotional exhaustion associated with extended video-based interactions. While the Zoom Exhaustion and Fatigue Scale (ZEFS) has been widely applied in studies involving students and office workers, there is limited research on its relevance to clinicians. Physicians, in particular, often conduct hours of uninterrupted virtual patient care, which can potentially lead to significant neurocognitive strain. This study explores the impact of prolonged virtual consultations on clinician well-being, employing ZEFS alongside the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) and Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS) to assess emotional and cognitive outcomes. Findings suggest that the increased cognitive load, reduced non-verbal communication, and digital interface stress contribute to higher levels of fatigue, anxiety, and dissatisfaction, highlighting the urgent need for systemic support and ergonomic telehealth practices.
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Mahmood et al. (2025) studied this question.
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