Human factors

Question 1

What is a system?

Answer 1

A set of interacting and interdependent elements that function as a whole towards a goal

Question 2

What is physical ergonomics?

Answer 2

Is concerned with human anatomical, anthropometric, physiological and biochemical characteristics as they relate to physical activity (eg. working postures, materials handling, workplace layout)

Question 3

What is cognitive ergonomics?

Answer 3

Is concerned with mental processes, such as perception, memory, reasoning and motor response as they affect interaction among humans and other elements of a system (eg. decision making, skilled performance, human computer interaction)

Question 4

What is organisational ergonomics?

Answer 4

Is concerned with the optimisation of sociotechnical systems, including their organisational structure, policies and processes (eg. work design, design of working times, quality management)

Question 5

What is collaborative?

Answer 5

Work in which both healthcare professional and patients (and/or family) are jointly and actively involved

Question 6

What is professional work?

Answer 6

Work in which a healthcare professional or team of professionals are the primary agents, with minimal active involvement of patients, family caregivers and other non-professionals

Question 7

What is patient work?

Answer 7

Work in which the patient ( and / or family caregiver) is the primary agent, with minimal active healthcare professional involvement

Question 8

What are non-technical skills?

Answer 8

• cognitive; situation awareness, decision making, task management
• social; teamwork, communication, leadership
• personal resource; managing stress, coping with fatigue