Human+Factors

=Definition:= (from the [|US Food and Drug Administration's Human Factors Program (Promoting Safety in Medical Device Usage)])

//Human factors (HF) is the study of how people use technology. It involves the interaction of human abilities, expectations, and limitations, with work environments and system design. The term “human factors engineering” (HFE) refers to the application of human factors principles to the design of devices and systems. It is often interchanged with the terms "human engineering," "usability engineering," or "ergonomics." The goal of HFE is to design devices that users accept willingly and operate safely in realistic conditions. In medical applications, HFE helps improve human performance and reduce the risks associated with use error. In many cases, HFE focuses on the device user interface (also called the UI or the man-machine interface). The user interface includes all components and accessories necessary to operate and properly maintain the device, including the controls, displays, software, logic of operation, labels, and instructions. Specific benefits of HFE include:// //HFE should take place early in the product development process. It should include tools such as analysis of critical tasks, use error hazard and risk analysis, and realistic use testing.//
 * //Reduced risk of device use error;//
 * //Better understanding of device status and operation;//
 * //Better understanding of a patient’s current medical condition;//
 * //Easier to use (or more intuitive) devices;//
 * //Reduced need for training;//
 * //Reduced reliance on user manuals;//
 * //Easier to read controls and displays;//
 * //Safer connections between devices (i.e. power cords, leads, tubes, etc.);//
 * //More effective alarms; and//
 * //Easier repair and maintenance.//


 * Wiki author's note:** This definition provides a somewhat limited view of human factors. As is demonstrated in the book reviewed below, human factors science and engineering encompasses many levels of the human system and not just the human-machine interface. Also considered are team, organizational and political dimensions that may give rise to problems at the human-machine interface. For example, failure to adequately fund or resource health services (a political or organizational decision) could place extreme workload burdens on health care workers causing stress and fatigue thus increasing the likelihood of error when using eHealth systems.

=The Human Factor: Revolutionizing the Way We Live With Technology= Review by Brendan Seaton

Without question the best book I've read about human factors engineering and the issues that arise when we put human beings and technology together is [|The Human Factor: Revolutionizing the Way We Live With Technology] by [|Kim Vicente]. Vicente has written a very readable and fascinating book drawing on real life experiences from the aviation, nuclear, health care and other high risk industries. The book is organized around the "Human-Tech Ladder" which describes a hierarchy of relationships that explains why things sometimes go wrong when humans and technology mix. The ladder looks at the following factors:


 * Physical** - Size, shape, location weight, colour, material
 * Psychological** - Information content/structure, cause/effect relations
 * Team** - Authority, communications patterns, responsibilities
 * Organizational** - Corporate culture, reward structures, staffing levels
 * Political** - Policy agenda, budget allocations, laws, regulations

The book demonstrates that IT failure can rarely be attributed to a simple technology failure or by the failure of a single human being. The extraordinary complexity of the surrounding technological and human systems together with this hierarchy of human-technology relationships is often at the root cause of failure.

I highly recommend this book for anyone building, installing or operating eHealth systems.

=External Links:=

[|Human Factors and Ergonomics Society] [|ANSI/AAMI HE74:2001 - Human factors design process for medical devices]. This US standard discusses human factors design associated with medical devices. While not strictly information and communications technologies, this standard provides some guidance about how to reduce the likelihood of errors caused by poor human factors engineering. (purchase only) [|A human factors engineering paradigm for patient safety: designing to support the performance of the healthcare professional] - a focus on designing systems to improve the performance of healthcare professionals and reducing errors. (purchase only) [|Technology, governance and patient safety: Systems issues in technology and patient safety] - a paper on the governance and management of medical devices. (purchase only)