Medical Error and Human Factors Engineering: Where Are We Now?

Abstract

The goal of human factors engineering is to optimize the relationship between humans and systems by studying human behavior, abilities, and limitations and using this knowledge to design systems for safe and effective human use. With the assumption that the human component of any system will inevitably produce errors, human factors engineers design systems and human/machine interfaces that are robust enough to reduce error rates and the effect of the inevitable error within the system. In this article, we review the extent and nature of medical error and then discuss human factors engineering tools that have potential applicability. These tools include taxonomies of human and system error and error data collection and analysis methods. Finally, we describe studies that have examined medical error, and on the basis of these studies, present conclusions about how human factors engineering can significantly reduce medical errors and their effects.

Why you need to include human factors in clinical and empirical studies ofin vitropoint of care devices? Review and future perspectives

“…The lack of HFE approaches in POC studies strongly suggests, along with the findings of others [11,12,24,35], that the diffusion of HFE know-how in medicine could potentially generate new or enhanced evaluation paradigms to fully assess micro-and macro-ergonomics aspects of device interaction. This would help researchers to gather, through standardize and comparable scales, a fuller perspective on POC use and potential safety issues.…”

“…HFE professionals in a healthcare environment may observe human behaviour, abilities, attitudes and limitations, and use these data to assess devices, to aid new design and, where necessary, to inform the redesign the broader sociotechnical systems and define the practices of use to enhance safety [24].…”

Patient Safety and Collaboration of the Intensive Care Unit Team

“…4 In the ICU, these behaviors can be translated into a poor end-ofshift report, tension between physicians and nurses, and failure to anticipate potential problems such as the development of stridor after endotracheal extubation.…”

“…3 Causes of error include workload, fatigue, circadian dysrhythmia, overconfidence, and failure to work together as a team. 4 The relationship between nurse and physician team members is a PRIME POINTS…”

Towards Technology-Supported Surgical Training

“…Therefore, laparoscopic skills learning and training manners seem to need special attention. Trere are researchers who have recently suggested, the human factor research for inventing solutions for enhancing patient safety in this particular area of surgery (Charness & Tuffiash 2008;Gawron et al 2006;O'Connor et al 2010).…”