Pub Date : 2025-09-17DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104625
Manuel Fleps , Max Hörandel , Melina Fischer , Janina Krell-Roesch , Pascal Senn , Klaus Boes , Claudia Hildebrand
The aim of this intervention study was to examine the effects of two different implementation approaches of a passive, upper-limb exoskeleton (MATE-XT®) on the acceptability of the exoskeleton by participants and participants’ health in a workplace health promotion setting.
Participants were assigned to one of two groups and underwent either an exoskeleton application training (AT, N = 9) or standardized briefing (SB, N = 9) over a period of 4 weeks. Outcomes of interest, i.e., acceptability of the exoskeleton and participants’ health, were assessed using the Technology Usage Inventory and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey before, immediately after, and approximately one year after the 4-week implementation period. Wearing time was tracked over the 4-week implementation period.
AT participants reported significantly higher usefulness and usability, greater curiosity, reduced skepticism, and had a higher wearing time in the last two weeks of the implementation. In addition, they perceived the exoskeleton as more useful, and reported higher physical health outcomes than SB participants. At one-year-follow-up, AT participants continued to perceive the exoskeleton as more valuable.
本干预研究的目的是检查在工作场所健康促进环境中，被动式上肢外骨骼（MATE-XT®）的两种不同实施方法对参与者外骨骼可接受性和参与者健康的影响。参与者被分配到两组中的一组，在4周的时间内接受外骨骼应用训练（AT, N = 9）或标准化简报（SB, N = 9）。在为期四周的实施期之前、之后和大约一年后，使用技术使用清单和简短的12健康调查来评估感兴趣的结果，即外骨骼的可接受性和参与者的健康。在为期四周的实施期内，追踪佩戴时间。AT参与者报告了显著更高的有用性和可用性，更大的好奇心，更少的怀疑，并且在实施的最后两周有更高的佩戴时间。此外，他们认为外骨骼更有用，并报告了比SB参与者更高的身体健康结果。在一年的随访中，At参与者仍然认为外骨骼更有价值。
{"title":"Effects of different implementation approaches on the acceptability of a passive exoskeleton for workplace health promotion: An intervention study using the MATE-XT®","authors":"Manuel Fleps , Max Hörandel , Melina Fischer , Janina Krell-Roesch , Pascal Senn , Klaus Boes , Claudia Hildebrand","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this intervention study was to examine the effects of two different implementation approaches of a passive, upper-limb exoskeleton (MATE-XT®) on the acceptability of the exoskeleton by participants and participants’ health in a workplace health promotion setting.</div><div>Participants were assigned to one of two groups and underwent either an exoskeleton application training (AT, N = 9) or standardized briefing (SB, N = 9) over a period of 4 weeks. Outcomes of interest, i.e., acceptability of the exoskeleton and participants’ health, were assessed using the Technology Usage Inventory and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey before, immediately after, and approximately one year after the 4-week implementation period. Wearing time was tracked over the 4-week implementation period.</div><div>AT participants reported significantly higher usefulness and usability, greater curiosity, reduced skepticism, and had a higher wearing time in the last two weeks of the implementation. In addition, they perceived the exoskeleton as more useful, and reported higher physical health outcomes than SB participants. At one-year-follow-up, AT participants continued to perceive the exoskeleton as more valuable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145088221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-13DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104641
Nicola Green , David Tappin , Tim Bentley
Good health is vital for sustainable social and economic development and improving access to healthcare can help progress this goal. Telehealth is a digital technology that can strengthen health systems. One example is healthcare consultations using videoconferencing (VC) to connect patients and providers. Despite stakeholder benefits, there are challenges in integrating VC into routine practice which has led to failed VC services. This study, guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 2.0 framework, investigated the impact of VC on healthcare work systems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Interviews with experts, healthcare providers and patients (n = 40) and observations at three healthcare sites showed that using VC has cross-level system impacts, including new ways of working, change, human connection and equity. The findings suggest human-centred design and consideration of system interactions could support sustained VC healthcare, with implications for future technology adoption and opportunities for ergonomics and human factors in system analysis and design.
{"title":"The impact of telehealth videoconferencing on the healthcare work system: designing for sustained practice","authors":"Nicola Green , David Tappin , Tim Bentley","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104641","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104641","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Good health is vital for sustainable social and economic development and improving access to healthcare can help progress this goal. Telehealth is a digital technology that can strengthen health systems. One example is healthcare consultations using videoconferencing (VC) to connect patients and providers. Despite stakeholder benefits, there are challenges in integrating VC into routine practice which has led to failed VC services. This study, guided by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) 2.0 framework, investigated the impact of VC on healthcare work systems in Aotearoa New Zealand. Interviews with experts, healthcare providers and patients (n = 40) and observations at three healthcare sites showed that using VC has cross-level system impacts, including new ways of working, change, human connection and equity. The findings suggest human-centred design and consideration of system interactions could support sustained VC healthcare, with implications for future technology adoption and opportunities for ergonomics and human factors in system analysis and design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104641"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050109","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-11DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104638
Kati Karhula , Rahman Shiri , Jenni Ervasti , Aki Koskinen , Annina Ropponen , Mikael Sallinen , Jarno Turunen , Mikko Härmä
We investigated the effects of a shift schedule evaluation tool with ergonomics recommendations on employee wellbeing. The study sample was from the Finnish Public Sector study (n = 7002 employees). The shift planners' use of the shift schedule evaluation tool was linked to employees' self-reported wellbeing outcomes. Inverse probability weights, reflecting the likelihood of the evaluation tool's use by the shift planner, were calculated using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression for each participant and logistic regression for each ward. Wards using the tool (intervention group) were compared to those not using it (control group) with a generalized linear model. No association was found between the tool's use and wellbeing at the ward level. In the individual level, lower psychological distress was found in the intervention group (Risk ratio 0.92, 95 % Confidence interval 0.85−0.99). More rigorous use of the tool may be necessary to achieve significant benefits for wellbeing.
{"title":"Effects of the use of a shift schedule evaluation tool with ergonomic recommendations on employee wellbeing - a quasi-experiment in the Finnish healthcare sector","authors":"Kati Karhula , Rahman Shiri , Jenni Ervasti , Aki Koskinen , Annina Ropponen , Mikael Sallinen , Jarno Turunen , Mikko Härmä","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104638","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104638","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We investigated the effects of a shift schedule evaluation tool with ergonomics recommendations on employee wellbeing. The study sample was from the Finnish Public Sector study (n = 7002 employees). The shift planners' use of the shift schedule evaluation tool was linked to employees' self-reported wellbeing outcomes. Inverse probability weights, reflecting the likelihood of the evaluation tool's use by the shift planner, were calculated using multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression for each participant and logistic regression for each ward. Wards using the tool (intervention group) were compared to those not using it (control group) with a generalized linear model. No association was found between the tool's use and wellbeing at the ward level. In the individual level, lower psychological distress was found in the intervention group (Risk ratio 0.92, 95 % Confidence interval 0.85−0.99). More rigorous use of the tool may be necessary to achieve significant benefits for wellbeing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104638"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050073","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-10DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104639
Evan D. Feigel , Ayden McCarthy , Joel T. Fuller , Lily Rosenblum , Mita Lovalekar , Tommi Ojanen , Kai Pihlainen , Brian J. Martin , Kristen J. Koltun , Tim L.A. Doyle , Bradley C. Nindl
This investigation assessed the effect of gradient and duration on the gait variability exponent, DFA-α, in military personnel affixed with dual inertial measurement units performing a load carriage time-trial. Gait data (N = 14) were partitioned into 256 stride time segments by gradient (uphill, downhill) using a gait event algorithm. Detrended fluctuation analysis calculated DFA-α per segment, which was averaged across one-third durations (phases 1–3) per gradient. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA examined effects of gradient, duration, and interaction on DFA-α, with Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc comparisons. There was a significant main effect of duration (phase 1: 0.593 ± 0.021; phase 2: 0.563 ± 0.031; phase 3: 0.493 ± 0.021; F = 3.833, p = 0.035, ηp2 = 0.228), but not gradient (uphill: 0.486 ± 0.031; downhill: 0.614 ± 0.035; F = 4.252, p = 0.060, ηp2 = 0.246), or interaction (F = 0.019, p = 0.981, ηp2 = 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significantly lower DFA-α during phase 3 than phase 1 (p = 0.016). Elapsed duration and uphill gradient, despite a large, but non-significant effect, may represent factors altering gait variability for injury risk.
本研究评估了坡度和持续时间对佩戴双惯性测量装置进行负重计时试验的军人步态变异性指数DFA-α的影响。采用步态事件算法将步态数据（N = 14）按梯度（上坡、下坡）划分为256个步幅时间段。去趋势波动分析计算每个段的DFA-α，每个梯度在三分之一持续时间（阶段1-3）内平均。双向重复测量方差分析检查梯度、持续时间和相互作用对DFA-α的影响，并采用bonferroni调整后的事后比较。持续时间（第一阶段：0.593±0.021；第二阶段：0.563±0.031；第三阶段：0.493±0.021;F = 3.833, p = 0.035, ηp2 = 0.228）是主要影响因素，而坡度（上坡：0.486±0.031；下坡：0.614±0.035;F = 4.252, p = 0.060, ηp2 = 0.246）和相互作用（F = 0.019, p = 0.981, ηp2 = 0.001）则不是主要影响因素。两两比较显示，第3期DFA-α显著低于第1期（p = 0.016）。持续时间和上坡坡度，尽管有很大但不显著的影响，可能代表了改变步态变异性的伤害风险因素。
{"title":"Nonlinear analysis reveals duration and gradient-dependent disruption of load carriage gait variability during an outdoor 6.72 km time trial in military personnel","authors":"Evan D. Feigel , Ayden McCarthy , Joel T. Fuller , Lily Rosenblum , Mita Lovalekar , Tommi Ojanen , Kai Pihlainen , Brian J. Martin , Kristen J. Koltun , Tim L.A. Doyle , Bradley C. Nindl","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This investigation assessed the effect of gradient and duration on the gait variability exponent, DFA-α, in military personnel affixed with dual inertial measurement units performing a load carriage time-trial. Gait data (N = 14) were partitioned into 256 stride time segments by gradient (uphill, downhill) using a gait event algorithm. Detrended fluctuation analysis calculated DFA-α per segment, which was averaged across one-third durations (phases 1–3) per gradient. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA examined effects of gradient, duration, and interaction on DFA-α, with Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc comparisons. There was a significant main effect of duration (phase 1: 0.593 ± 0.021; phase 2: 0.563 ± 0.031; phase 3: 0.493 ± 0.021; F = 3.833, p = 0.035, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.228), but not gradient (uphill: 0.486 ± 0.031; downhill: 0.614 ± 0.035; F = 4.252, p = 0.060, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.246), or interaction (F = 0.019, p = 0.981, η<sub>p</sub><sup>2</sup> = 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significantly lower DFA-α during phase 3 than phase 1 (p = 0.016). Elapsed duration and uphill gradient, despite a large, but non-significant effect, may represent factors altering gait variability for injury risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-09-08DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104588
Janette Edmonds , Sue Hignett , Helen Vosper , Hugh Currie , Paul Bowie
Purpose
To share key learnings from the assessment of a COVID-19 vaccination system in Scotland using a Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) approach.
Method
Project data were collected in February 2021 in NHS Ayrshire and Arran (NHSAA) – the regional health authority - using document analysis (Service Delivery Manual, 2020), observations (2 site visits), and workshops (n = 8, with 26 participants). The Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) is a framework for human reliability analysis that can be used as part of a safety assessment or safety case to determine whether the system is ‘safe enough’ and provide recommendations to improve safety by mitigating error potential. In this paper it was used to assess the service delivery system and make recommendations.
Results
Many recovery mechanisms and risk control measures had already been implemented by NHSAA. Eighteen issues required additional risk control, grouped into three themes.
1.
Improve staff training and awareness, and the management of expectations.
2.
Improve equipment and information provision.
3.
Implement additional checks and contingencies.
1.
Improve staff training and awareness, and the management of expectations.
2.
Improve equipment and information provision.
3.
Implement additional checks and contingencies.
Conclusion
The findings were used to improve the current service delivery and provide guidance for the safe design and delivery of future rollouts of time-critical public health vaccination programmes.
{"title":"COVID-19 vaccination systems: Human Factors at the ‘sharp end’","authors":"Janette Edmonds , Sue Hignett , Helen Vosper , Hugh Currie , Paul Bowie","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104588","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104588","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To share key learnings from the assessment of a COVID-19 vaccination system in Scotland using a Human Reliability Analysis (HRA) approach.</div></div><div><h3>Method</h3><div>Project data were collected in February 2021 in NHS Ayrshire and Arran (NHSAA) – the regional health authority - using document analysis (Service Delivery Manual, 2020), observations (2 site visits), and workshops (n = 8, with 26 participants). The Systematic Human Error Reduction and Prediction Approach (SHERPA) is a framework for human reliability analysis that can be used as part of a safety assessment or safety case to determine whether the system is ‘safe enough’ and provide recommendations to improve safety by mitigating error potential. In this paper it was used to assess the service delivery system and make recommendations.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Many recovery mechanisms and risk control measures had already been implemented by NHSAA. Eighteen issues required additional risk control, grouped into three themes.<ul><li><span>1.</span><span><div>Improve staff training and awareness, and the management of expectations.</div></span></li><li><span>2.</span><span><div>Improve equipment and information provision.</div></span></li><li><span>3.</span><span><div>Implement additional checks and contingencies.</div></span></li></ul></div><div><ul><li><span>1.</span><span><div>Improve staff training and awareness, and the management of expectations.</div></span></li><li><span>2.</span><span><div>Improve equipment and information provision.</div></span></li><li><span>3.</span><span><div>Implement additional checks and contingencies.</div></span></li></ul></div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The findings were used to improve the current service delivery and provide guidance for the safe design and delivery of future rollouts of time-critical public health vaccination programmes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104588"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145020411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Virtual reality (VR) training provides immersive, risk-free experiences that leverage multisensory integration to improve memory retention, presence and embodiment to strengthen engagement and attention, and situational learning to promote transfer of training to real-world contexts. Adding gamification through serious games (SG) further enhances engagement and active learning. This study validates a VR-SG safety training previously evaluated in Colombia, now applied to 74 professional roofers in Germany comparing ViStra (VR-SG) with LeStra (lecture-based with problem-based learning). Using Kirkpatrick's model, we assessed reaction, cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, self-reported behavior, and safety climate through validated questionnaires. Both programs improved cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, with no significant differences. No effects were found for behavior or safety climate. Thus, ViStra matched LeStra's effectiveness. Post hoc comparison with Colombian data suggests cultural factors influence some outcomes, highlighting the importance of adapting training strategies to cultural contexts for future safety training strategies in diverse work environments.
{"title":"VR- or lecture-based training? The role of culture in safety training outcomes","authors":"Estefany Rey-Becerra , Lope H. Barrero , Rolf Ellegast , Annette Kluge","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual reality (VR) training provides immersive, risk-free experiences that leverage multisensory integration to improve memory retention, presence and embodiment to strengthen engagement and attention, and situational learning to promote transfer of training to real-world contexts. Adding gamification through serious games (SG) further enhances engagement and active learning. This study validates a VR-SG safety training previously evaluated in Colombia, now applied to 74 professional roofers in Germany comparing ViStra (VR-SG) with LeStra (lecture-based with problem-based learning). Using Kirkpatrick's model, we assessed reaction, cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, self-reported behavior, and safety climate through validated questionnaires. Both programs improved cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, with no significant differences. No effects were found for behavior or safety climate. Thus, ViStra matched LeStra's effectiveness. Post hoc comparison with Colombian data suggests cultural factors influence some outcomes, highlighting the importance of adapting training strategies to cultural contexts for future safety training strategies in diverse work environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104626"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104622
Baris Cogan , Esther Bosch , Birte Thomas-Friedrich , Helena Wasle , David Schackmann , Christian Klotz , Birgit Milius
Understanding train driver performance can provide valuable insights for the development of automatic train operation systems. This study investigates the visual perception of train drivers under different conditions using driving simulator experiments. The 43 participating train drivers were instructed to drive the train and react to stationary objects on the tracks of varying size and contrast to the background. Two train protection systems (the German intermittent train protection system PZB and the European Train Control System with in-cab signalling ETCS) and on-sight driving were used. The results showed significant effects of size, contrast, and speed on reaction times. The effects of the train protection systems and on-sight driving were inconclusive. The approach presented in this study, along with an understanding of the relative impact of various performance shaping factors can serve as a basis for defining the requirements for ATO systems.
{"title":"Evaluating train drivers’ performance to inform the development of automatic train operation","authors":"Baris Cogan , Esther Bosch , Birte Thomas-Friedrich , Helena Wasle , David Schackmann , Christian Klotz , Birgit Milius","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Understanding train driver performance can provide valuable insights for the development of automatic train operation systems. This study investigates the visual perception of train drivers under different conditions using driving simulator experiments. The 43 participating train drivers were instructed to drive the train and react to stationary objects on the tracks of varying size and contrast to the background. Two train protection systems (the German intermittent train protection system PZB and the European Train Control System with in-cab signalling ETCS) and on-sight driving were used. The results showed significant effects of size, contrast, and speed on reaction times. The effects of the train protection systems and on-sight driving were inconclusive. The approach presented in this study, along with an understanding of the relative impact of various performance shaping factors can serve as a basis for defining the requirements for ATO systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 104622"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144904108","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104627
Jung Hyup Kim , Wenbin Guo , Will Mastrantuono , Kangwon Seo
This study explores a connection between sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) of patients in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) and primary care nursing time. Although ICU nurses have many responsibilities that impact patient outcomes, little is known about how the severity of a patient's illness influences the time and activities that nurses dedicate to primary care within a medical ICU. Data collection was set for February to April 2020, as suspended on March 11 due to COVID-19. It resumed on July 6, 2020, after clinical research activities were reinstated. We collected data for a time-motion study. We combined the manual observation data with the real-time location data of a Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER) system to analyze how time is structured in primary care. Our goal was to investigate the impact of a patient's illness severity on how time is allocated in intensive care nursing. Overall, there was no significant difference between February and July in terms of time spent on primary care and peer support activities. However, for specific primary-care tasks, ICU nurses spent less time on patient assessment, patient care, and medication tasks compared to February, significantly more time on patient transport in July. In the February data, we found a significant correlation between the SOFA score and the time devoted to primary care, indicating a meaningful association between patient illness severity and the allocation of nursing time. However, in the July data, no correlation was found between the SOFA score and the time spent on primary care. These findings improve our understanding of the challenges that nurses experience in medical ICU units, emphasizing the necessary adjustments to enhance nursing care.
{"title":"Exploring the relationship between severity of patient illness and in room primary care nursing time in a medical intensive care unit","authors":"Jung Hyup Kim , Wenbin Guo , Will Mastrantuono , Kangwon Seo","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104627","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study explores a connection between sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) of patients in a medical intensive care unit (ICU) and primary care nursing time. Although ICU nurses have many responsibilities that impact patient outcomes, little is known about how the severity of a patient's illness influences the time and activities that nurses dedicate to primary care within a medical ICU. Data collection was set for February to April 2020, as suspended on March 11 due to COVID-19. It resumed on July 6, 2020, after clinical research activities were reinstated. We collected data for a time-motion study. We combined the manual observation data with the real-time location data of a Near Field Electromagnetic Ranging (NFER) system to analyze how time is structured in primary care. Our goal was to investigate the impact of a patient's illness severity on how time is allocated in intensive care nursing. Overall, there was no significant difference between February and July in terms of time spent on primary care and peer support activities. However, for specific primary-care tasks, ICU nurses spent less time on patient assessment, patient care, and medication tasks compared to February, significantly more time on patient transport in July. In the February data, we found a significant correlation between the SOFA score and the time devoted to primary care, indicating a meaningful association between patient illness severity and the allocation of nursing time. However, in the July data, no correlation was found between the SOFA score and the time spent on primary care. These findings improve our understanding of the challenges that nurses experience in medical ICU units, emphasizing the necessary adjustments to enhance nursing care.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 104627"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889605","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-23DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104613
Paul R. Slaughter, Karl E. Zelik
Soldiers experience high rates of back injuries from wearing heavy body armor. Wearable weight distribution devices that offload body armor weight to the hips might help mitigate injury risk. However, it is unclear how much offloading is practical without negatively impacting comfort or biomechanics. We explored this knowledge gap by testing 13 veterans while wearing a 15.6 kg body armor vest and a novel weight distribution device. For each trial, the device was adjusted to offload a percentage of the body armor weight. We tested four conditions: ZERO (0%), LOW (∼30%), MED (∼60%), and HIGH (∼90%). We found that LOW, MED, and HIGH offloading of the shoulders and back did not negatively affect trunk muscle activity or posture. Overall user comfort also improved. All participants preferred a portion of the body armor weight distributed to their hip belt, highlighting the potential for these devices to relieve people in occupations that wear body armor.
{"title":"Wearable weight distribution devices for reducing injury risk: How varying amounts of body armor offloading affect biomechanics and comfort","authors":"Paul R. Slaughter, Karl E. Zelik","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104613","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104613","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soldiers experience high rates of back injuries from wearing heavy body armor. Wearable weight distribution devices that offload body armor weight to the hips might help mitigate injury risk. However, it is unclear how much offloading is practical without negatively impacting comfort or biomechanics. We explored this knowledge gap by testing 13 veterans while wearing a 15.6 kg body armor vest and a novel weight distribution device. For each trial, the device was adjusted to offload a percentage of the body armor weight. We tested four conditions: ZERO (0%), LOW (∼30%), MED (∼60%), and HIGH (∼90%). We found that LOW, MED, and HIGH offloading of the shoulders and back did not negatively affect trunk muscle activity or posture. Overall user comfort also improved. All participants preferred a portion of the body armor weight distributed to their hip belt, highlighting the potential for these devices to relieve people in occupations that wear body armor.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 104613"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144889606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104620
Mina Salehi , Jangho Park , Divya Srinivasan , Jeong Ho Kim
This study evaluated the impacts of five support levels (40, 55, 70, 85, and 100 % actuator strengths) of a passive back-support exoskeleton (BSE) on biomechanical loads associated with commercial crab sorting through musculoskeletal simulation. Whole-body kinematics of 20 male participants performing simulated crab sorting were collected and integrated into a human-BSE interaction simulation framework to predict muscle activity, spinal loads, and contact forces at the human-BSE interfaces. Increasing the BSE support level generally reduced trunk extensor muscle activity (up to 28.6 %) and lumbosacral reaction forces (up to 30.7 %). However, the reduced biomechanical load came at the expense of increased contact forces on the chest and thigh areas, potentially causing local discomfort for vulnerable users. These findings suggest that while BSEs can be effective in reducing low back biomechanical loads during crab sorting, support levels should be carefully selected to ensure adequate assistance while minimizing potential side effects, such as local discomfort or pain.
{"title":"Simulation-based biomechanical assessment of a passive back support exoskeleton: Comparison of various support levels during a sustained forward bending task","authors":"Mina Salehi , Jangho Park , Divya Srinivasan , Jeong Ho Kim","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104620","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104620","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the impacts of five support levels (40, 55, 70, 85, and 100 % actuator strengths) of a passive back-support exoskeleton (BSE) on biomechanical loads associated with commercial crab sorting through musculoskeletal simulation. Whole-body kinematics of 20 male participants performing simulated crab sorting were collected and integrated into a human-BSE interaction simulation framework to predict muscle activity, spinal loads, and contact forces at the human-BSE interfaces. Increasing the BSE support level generally reduced trunk extensor muscle activity (up to 28.6 %) and lumbosacral reaction forces (up to 30.7 %). However, the reduced biomechanical load came at the expense of increased contact forces on the chest and thigh areas, potentially causing local discomfort for vulnerable users. These findings suggest that while BSEs can be effective in reducing low back biomechanical loads during crab sorting, support levels should be carefully selected to ensure adequate assistance while minimizing potential side effects, such as local discomfort or pain.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"129 ","pages":"Article 104620"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144887456","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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