Human factors in patient safety as an innovation

The use of Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) tools, methods, concepts and theories has been advocated by many experts and organizations to improve patient safety. To facilitate and support the spread of HFE knowledge and skills in healthcare and patient safety, we propose to conceptualize HFE as innovations whose diffusion, dissemination, implementation and sustainability need to be understood and specified. Using Greenhalgh et al. (2004) model of innovation, we identified various factors that can either hinder or facilitate the spread of HFE innovations in healthcare organizations. Barriers include lack of systems thinking, complexity of HFE innovations and lack of understanding about the benefits of HFE innovations. Positive impact of HFE interventions on task performance and the presence of local champions can facilitate the adoption, implementation and sustainability of HFE innovations. This analysis concludes with a series of recommendations for HFE professionals, researchers and educators.     

Excellent software professionals: experience, work activities, and perception by peers

This paper reports findings of a field study examining expertise in 29 software development projects. Using a peer nomination method, 33 out of 200 subjects were characterized as excellent software professionals. Excellent software professionals are described as having high technical and computational knowledge, a high level of social skills, and as using a method-oriented working style. They have a broader, not longer professional experience than do their colleagues. Excellent and average software professionals do not differ with respect to time spent on typical software development activities such as design, coding, or testing, but excellent software professionals are more often engaged in review meetings and consultations than are other team members.     

Excellent software professionals: experience,work activities,and perception by peers

Abstract

This paper reports findings of a field study examining expertise in 29 software development projects. Using a peer nomination method, 33 out of 200 subjects were characterized as excellent software professionals. Excellent software professionals are described as having high technical and computational knowledge, a high level of social skills, and as using a method-oriented working style. They have a broader, not longer professional experience than do their colleagues. Excellent and average software professionals do not differ with respect to time spent on typical software development activities such as design, coding, or testing, but excellent software professionals are more often engaged in review meetings and consultations than are other team members.     

Age as a moderator of attitude towards technology in the workplace: work motivation and overall job satisfaction

Given the prevalence of technology in the workplace, an understanding of employees' attitudes towards technology is essential. Such attitudes have been linked to such important issues as the successful implementation of new technologies in the workplace, employee intent to use technology, and the actual usage of technology by employees. As a result of the rapidly aging workforce, and because age has been linked to computer use and comfort, it is important to examine the relationship that may exist between age and attitudes towards technology. This study examines age as a moderator of 612 employees' attitudes towards technology in relation to work motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic) and overall job satisfaction. Further, given the technological socialisation of the Generation X (Gen X) versus the Baby Boomers, our sample comprised these two demographics. Hierarchical moderated multiple regression indicates age moderates the relationship between attitude towards technology and intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and to a lesser extent, overall job satisfaction. In each instance, older employees exhibit the strongest relationships with the outcome variables when possessing a high attitude towards technology. In contrast, older employees exhibit the weakest relationships when possessing a low attitude towards technology. These results are supportive of the moderating effect of age on attitude towards technology. Lastly, implications and directions for future research are discussed.     

The social shaping of technology and work: Human centred CIM systems

This paper decribes the theoretical and methodological issues involved in the social shaping of technology and work, with particular reference to human centred computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) systems. Conventional approaches to the understanding and shaping of the relationship between technology, work and human development are criticised, and an alternative, human centred approach is outlined. The methods and processes whereby the design of human centred CIM systems may be shaped and evaluated are then described and appraised.     

Human factors and information technology: responding to the challenge

Editor's note: Recommendations are given from a report published by the UK National Electronics Council on the importance of an awareness of human factors to information technology. Ergonomists alone cannot reshape attitudes to technological design, according to the report, and a concerted effort is needed from every group involved. For this reason, the NEC's recommendations are addressed to government, standards bodies, manufacturers, users and educators. Taken together, the recommendations from the basis of the initiative that the report's authors believe must be taken to meet the challenge posed by information technology. Although the report was published in the context of the UK Alvey ‘Advanced Information Technology’ programme, its content will be of interest in all countries working with information technology. The report represents a challenge from the human factors community to engineers, and as such is required reading for Displays subscribers. The journal will welcome responses and encourage debate on the subject.     

Informal learning in work environments: training with the Social Web in the workplace

The Internet and its increasing usage has changed informal learning in depth. This change has affected young and older adults in both the workplace and in higher education. But, in spite of this, formal and non-formal course-based approaches have not taken full advantage of these new informal learning scenarios and technologies. The Web 2.0 is a new way for people to communicate across the Internet. Communication is a means of transformation and knowledge exchange. These are the facts that cannot be obviated by the organisations in their training programmes and knowledge management. This special issue is devoted to investigating how informal learning changes or influences online information in Social Web and training strategies in institutions. In order to do so, five papers will present different approaches of informal learning in the workplace regarding Web 2.0 capabilities.     

SEIPS 2.0: a human factors framework for studying and improving the work of healthcare professionals and patients

Healthcare practitioners, patient safety leaders, educators and researchers increasingly recognise the value of human factors/ergonomics and make use of the discipline's person-centred models of sociotechnical systems. This paper first reviews one of the most widely used healthcare human factors systems models, the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model, and then introduces an extended model, ‘SEIPS 2.0’. SEIPS 2.0 incorporates three novel concepts into the original model: configuration, engagement and adaptation. The concept of configuration highlights the dynamic, hierarchical and interactive properties of sociotechnical systems, making it possible to depict how health-related performance is shaped at ‘a moment in time’. Engagement conveys that various individuals and teams can perform health-related activities separately and collaboratively. Engaged individuals often include patients, family caregivers and other non-professionals. Adaptation is introduced as a feedback mechanism that explains how dynamic systems evolve in planned and unplanned ways. Key implications and future directions for human factors research in healthcare are discussed.     

Self direction and factors influencing technology use: Examining the relationships for the 21st century workplace

Self-direction and technology use are both identified as increasingly important skills for the 21st century workforce. In an effort to define effective pedagogies for students entering the workplace, this study examines the relationship between selected factors of self-directed learning and factors influencing technology use. University seniors provided a sample representing new workforce entrants and the workplace of the immediate future. Examining self-direction using the PRO-model of self-direction and technology use through the lens of computer self-efficacy, 572 graduating seniors provided a look at their preparation for the workplace for self-direction and technology use. Results indicated a significant but very weak relationship between self-direction and technology use that accounted for less than 7% of the variance for any one factor examined. Based on these results, this study includes implications for practice as well as recommendations for future research.     

Human factors in information technology: The socio-organisational aspects of expert systems design

This paper looks beyond the mostly technical and business issues that currently inform the design of knowledge-based systems (e.g., expert systems) to point out that there is also a social and organisational (a socio-organisational) dimension to the issues affecting the design decisions of expert systems and other information technologies. It argues that whilst technical and business issues are considered before the design of Expert Systems, that socio-organisational issues determine the acceptance and long-run utility of the technology after it has been implemented. It shows how four issues within the organisation can affect the design or the after-effects of the design and implementation of the technology. It also shows how the four issues can be considered within the structured phases of expert system development.     

Human factors approach for evaluation and redesign of human–system interfaces of a nuclear power plant simulator

Nuclear power production is a safety-critical process where ultimate execution of process change decisions lie with the operators. Thus it is important to provide the best possible decision support through effective supervisory control operator interfaces. This requires a human factors/ergonomics approach in the modernization of analog instrumentation and control systems of the existing nuclear power plants. In this article, we describe how this approach is being used for modernization of the ANGRA I power plant. Using a cognitive task analysis (CTA) approach, we observed operators working on an advanced control room of a nuclear power plant digital simulator and noted several opportunities for improvement in the human/system interfaces related to the graphics design, alarm systems and procedure integration. A redesigned prototype was constructed as an alternative to the current simulator and hardcopy procedure manuals. The design improves upon the graphical layout of system information and provides better integration of procedures, automation and alarm systems. The design was validated by expert opinion and a scenario-based comparison.

Relevance to industry

Human factors/ergonomics are not playing the role they deserve in the design of process control systems making them less controllable than they could be if human factors were adequately incorporated. The use of human factors approach in the design of process control systems throughout the industry presents many opportunities for improvements with regard to system effectiveness, efficiency, reliability and safety.     

Emotional intelligence and communication levels in information technology professionals

In today's digital and technical environment, employers are looking for personnel that can contribute to the organization not only with the use of technical skills but can also express their expertise with the use of positive emotional intelligence and communication effectiveness. As research is lacking in the investigation of soft skills used by information technology professionals, the relationship between emotional intelligence and communication adaptability is the focus of this research. This quantitative non-experimental correlational analyses the emotional intelligence and communication adaptability level of 111 Information Technology professionals that work in the United States. The research found a significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and the communication adaptability of the information technology professional. The positive outcome of this study suggests that information technology professions that have a strong relationship between emotional intelligence and communication aptitude can have positive implications for organizations for organizational teamwork/relationship building.     

Photo-messaging: Adopter attributes,technology factors and use motives

The purpose of this study was to develop a model of technology diffusion and impression management variables on photo-messaging behavior. Diffusion variables, such as innovativeness and technology clusters, were demonstrated to be predictors of sending photo messages and online sharing. Impression management motives – self-expression and self-presentation – were also indicators of photo-messaging. The perceived usefulness of mobile technology for sending and sharing was identified as an important influence of photo-messaging frequency; while perceived ease of use was not a predictor. Taken together, the findings indicate the importance of integrating technological adoption factors and motives for impression management in social media research.     

An EMG-study of work methods and equipment in crane coupling as a basis for job redesign

Previous studies have shown that physical strain is perceived as the main work environment problem for crane couplers. During one year, 70% of the crane couplers at two Swedish steelworks (n = 124) indicated complaints of the locomotor system. An experimental field study comprising seven healthy female crane couplers was therefore carried out to determine if crane coupling implies too high a physical strain for healthy individuals, and to suggest ergonomics solutions to such problems if they occur. The significance of using different methods and equipment for reducing physical strain was evaluated by vocational EMG (four shoulder/neck and arm muscles), heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion. The data suggest that crane coupling may have harmful effects on the shoulder/neck. The investigated changes in work methods and equipment reduced the peak loads. If the crane coupler also has to operate the crane by radio control, this implies a rationalisation as well as a reduction in strain.     

Computers in delivery of ergonomic technology for safety in the workplace: ErgoRisk©, an example

The computer is one of the essential tools in the delivery of ergonomic technology for achieving optimized safety at work. This article rationalizes the rightful place of computers in the hierarchy of ergonomics. Clearly, science and knowledge have the central place from which the technology flows. Harnessing discrete bits of technology into effective techniques lends us the ability to practice and apply ergonomic technology for safety. One of the most versatile and powerful media for application of these technologies is the computer. In an application sense, the computer acts as a funnel. Complex signals, involved functional relationship, and sophisticated processing using complex physiological, biomechanical, and cognitive models are systematically and accurately executed through the medium of the computer. Examples are presented to illustrate these arguments. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Boundary factors and contextual contingencies: configuring electronic templates for healthcare professionals

In this paper, we propose an approach to balance the legitimate and yet conflicting perspectives between standardization and reconfiguration embedded within hospital information systems (HIS) design activities. We report on an action research study of the customization process of an electronic triage and tracking system that was reconfigured to be used in eight Canadian emergency departments. We argue that during HIS design activities, it is essential for both practitioners and system designers to articulate and identify which aspects can be standardized without constraining important local flexibility and which aspects require local reconfiguration to function in a particular work context. To identify these differences, we suggest an analytical distinction between boundary factors and contextual contingencies, which can be used in a design and reconfiguration process. We argue that the process of designing shared electronic templates should be perceived as a common design process, where multiple stakeholders articulate, identify, and negotiate boundary factors and contextual contingencies. Boundary factors are then represented within the shared electronic system, whereas contextual contingencies form the basis for constructing localized versions of the shared application. All local versions include both boundary factors and the reconfigured contextual contingencies.