Information and communication technologies: a scoping review of instruments to evaluate psychosocial risk factors at contemporary work

Abstract

Introduction: the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a global recession and increased work precarity. In this scenario, the intensive use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) contributed to the appearance of new occupational psychosocial hazards, and the increase of mental disorders among workers. Objectives: to identify instruments that assess occupational psychosocial risks and stress available in literature and verify whether they include the new psychosocial work dimensions caused by ICTs. Methods: a scope review was conducted by searching the PubMed, BvS, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science databases for articles published between 1990 and 2023, following the Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR recommendations. It sought to group the relevant studies and instruments and identify gaps that should be observed. Results: bibliographic search identified 18 instruments, from 3424 articles. Ten included scales/ dimensions foreseen by PRIMA-EF, two included dimensions on ICT use and six were considered specific for assessing ICT-related occupational psychosocial risks. Conclusion: the study highlights the importance of using context-appropriate instruments, the digital stress factors yet to be included in these questionnaires and the relevance of organizational support to reduce technostress in workers.