In the Shadow of Digital Burnout: A Qualitative Study on Academic Nurses' Perspectives on Digital Fatigue and Mental Health.

Thematic analysis of academic nurses' experiences revealed four major themes related to digital fatigue and mental health.

• Four themes were identified: Multidimensional impact of digital exposure, Social consequences of digital fatigue, Coping and support strategies, and Institutional and policy-level challenges.
• Eleven subthemes emerged: Physical effects, Mental effects, Cognitive effects, Social isolation, Disconnection from reality, Personal physical measures, Psychological measures, Social support, Environmental regulations, Work-life balance challenges, and Need for education and awareness.
• The study utilized thematic analysis methodology conducted and reported in accordance with the COREQ checklist.
• Data collection was conducted through detailed field notes without audio recording, via online interviews on Google Meet.

Digital exposure among academic nurses produced multidimensional negative impacts spanning physical, mental, and cognitive domains.

• Physical effects, mental effects, and cognitive effects were identified as distinct subthemes under the theme of 'Multidimensional impact of digital exposure.'
• The rapid integration of digital technologies into academic and professional life significantly increased screen time and workload.
• These effects were reported as adversely impacting the overall functioning and wellbeing of academic nurses.

Digital fatigue was found to negatively impact the social lives of academic nurses, resulting in social isolation and disconnection from reality.

• Social consequences of digital fatigue constituted one of the four major themes, with subthemes of 'Social isolation' and 'Disconnection from reality.'
• It was determined that the social lives of nurse academics were negatively impacted by digital exposure, resulting in digital fatigue.
• These social consequences represent a distinct dimension of harm beyond individual physical or psychological effects.

Some academic nurses reported difficulty coping with digital fatigue, though a range of personal and social coping strategies were identified.

• It was found that some nurse academics had difficulty coping with this fatigue.
• Coping and support strategies formed one of the four major themes, encompassing subthemes of Personal physical measures, Psychological measures, and Social support.
• The existence of coping difficulties alongside identified strategies suggests uneven capacity among academic nurses to manage digital fatigue.

Institutional and policy-level challenges were identified as a distinct barrier to managing digital fatigue among academic nurses.

• The fourth major theme was 'Institutional and policy-level challenges,' with subthemes including Environmental regulations, Work-life balance challenges, and Need for education and awareness.
• Work-life balance challenges were specifically identified as a subtheme, indicating that institutional structures contribute to digital fatigue.
• Participants identified a need for education and awareness as part of addressing institutional-level challenges.

The study was conducted with 19 academic nurses in northern Türkiye using snowball sampling and in-depth online interviews until data saturation.

• A total of 19 academic nurses participated, residing in the northern region of Türkiye.
• Participants were identified through snowball sampling based on predetermined inclusion criteria.
• Interviews were conducted online via Google Meet in accordance with participants' availability and preferences.
• Interviews continued until data saturation was achieved, and data were collected through detailed field notes without audio recording.
• A pre-developed interview schedule was used for the in-depth interviews.

The authors recommend integrating psychiatric nursing and public health nursing approaches to address digital fatigue in academic healthcare settings.

• Addressing digital fatigue requires 'the integration of psychiatric nursing approaches focused on mental health promotion and coping enhancement.'
• Public health nursing strategies emphasizing 'preventive interventions, digital hygiene policies, and institutional regulation' are recommended to ensure sustainable and healthy academic work environments.
• The authors recommend future research examining relationships between digital fatigue and personality, digital literacy, mental health, and life satisfaction.
• Research addressing digital platforms that cause fatigue and evaluating users' awareness levels of digital network fatigue was also recommended.