Postoccupancy Evaluation of a Neighborhood Concept Redesign of an Acute Care Nursing Unit in a Planetree Hospital.

Objective: A comparative study was undertaken to survey nurses working in an acute care nursing unit before and after moving to a new hospital to investigate the impact of a nursing unit designed utilizing Planetree build criteria.

Background: The physical and emotional demands of frontline practitioners is a serious concern for patient safety and staff retention as the environmental design of nursing units can influence human errors from fatigue and interruption.

Method: A pre-move survey was conducted with acute care nurses in a conventional design nursing unit who were moving to a new facility.

Ergonomic lighting considerations for the home office workplace.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a large increase in the use of the home office environment. Compared to traditional commercial offices, home offices typically have more variable lighting conditions that can affect the worker's performance and well-being.

Objective: To review and discuss various lighting sources and their ergonomic impacts on the population of office employees now working from home.

Effect of workstation configuration on musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue in a sit-stand-walk intervention for computer-based work.

Objective: Compare musculoskeletal discomfort, productivity, postural risks, and perceived fatigue for a sit-stand-walk intervention between two workstation configurations - one, individually customized for office workers according to ergonomic guidelines (Ergo-Fit); another, self-adjusted by office workers according to their preference (Self-Adjusted).

Methods: 36 participants performed a 60-min computer typing task in both configurations using a within-participants, counterbalanced design. Musculoskeletal discomfort and perceived fatigue were reported through surveys; productivity was operationalized by typing speed and typing error; postural risks were assessed by RULA for seated work, and REBA for standing work.

Re-evaluation of a LEED Platinum Building: Occupant experiences of health and comfort.

Background: There is a need to better understand the perceived experiences of workers in green buildings as the literature to this point has been mixed.

Objectives: To re-evaluate occupant experiences within a LEED platinum building and investigate current experiences in general.

Methods: An online post occupancy evaluation (POE) survey of 62 occupants of LEED Platinum building on a US college campus is reported.

Thermal sensation, rate of temperature change, and the heat dissipation design for tablet computers.

Past research has shown that the rate of change of skin surface temperature can affect thermal sensation. This study investigated users' thermal responses to a tablet heating surface with different heat pads and different temperature change rates. The test conditions included: A.

Differential patterns of laptop use and associated musculoskeletal discomfort in male and female college students.

Background: Laptop computers have surpassed desktop computers in popularity, especially among college student users. The portability of these devices raises concerns regarding healthy usage patterns in different settings and there is a need to investigate the postures with which these devices are being used and associated reports of musculoskeletal discomfort.

Objective: This study investigated the configurations in which laptops are used and the prevalence of musculoskeletal discomfort associated with laptop use in a survey of college students.

The sedentary office: an expert statement on the growing case for change towards better health and productivity.

An international group of experts convened to provide guidance for employers to promote the avoidance of prolonged periods of sedentary work. The set of recommendations was developed from the totality of the current evidence, including long-term epidemiological studies and interventional studies of getting workers to stand and/or move more frequently. The evidence was ranked in quality using the four levels of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Optimizing the physical ergonomics indices for the use of partial pressure suits.

This study developed an ergonomic evaluation system for the design of high-altitude partial pressure suits (PPSs). A total of twenty-one Chinese males participated in the experiment which tested three types of ergonomics indices (manipulative mission, operational reach and operational strength) were studied using a three-dimensional video-based motion capture system, a target-pointing board, a hand dynamometer, and a step-tread apparatus. In total, 36 ergonomics indices were evaluated and optimized using regression and fitting analysis.

Measures of fit and discomfort for elementary school children in Serbia.

Background: Assessing physical ergonomic factors within the classroom environment creates new opportunities to support designs that promote student well-being. Student-aged anthropometric data helps guide proper desk fit assessment, therefore facilitating scholastic performance through the reduction of distractions such as physical discomfort.

Objective: This study reports dimensions of fit between student anthropometry and the desk environment (classroom seating conditions), for grade-school aged children in Serbia.

Alternative computer mouse designs: performance, posture, and subjective evaluations for college students aged 18-25.

Background: Students are faced with work demands requiring intense computer use throughout the week, often with cumulative hourly use per day exceeding that of adult workers. Extended daily computer use has been associated with a reported increase of musculoskeletal symptoms for college-aged students. New mouse designs offer alternative movement and postural strategies to potentially mitigate musculoskeletal stress for students.

An experimental study on the ergonomics indices of partial pressure suits.

Partial pressure suits (PPSs) are used under high altitude, low-pressure conditions to protect the pilots. However, the suit often limits pilot's mobility and work efficiency. The lack of ergonomic data on the effects of PPSs on mobility and performance creates difficulties for human factor engineers and cockpit layout specialists.

User evaluation of an innovative digital reading room.

Reading room design can have a major impact on radiologists' health, productivity, and accuracy in reading. Several factors must be taken into account in order to optimize the work environment for radiologists. Further, with the advancement in imaging technology, clinicians now have the ability to view and see digital exams without having to interact with radiologists.

Shining new light on the Hawthorne illumination experiments.

Objective: This study provides an historical and statistical analysis of archival data from the Hawthorne illumination experiments.

Background: Previous accounts of the illumination experiments are fraught with inconsistencies because they have been based on secondary sources. The general consensus has been that variations in light levels had no effect on worker productivity at Hawthorne.

Effect of acute exposure to a complex fragrance on lexical decision performance.

This study tested the effect of acute exposure to a commercial air freshener, derived from fragrant botanical extracts, at an average concentration of 3.16 mg/m(3) total volatile organic compounds on the lexical decision performance of 28 naive participants. Participants attended two 18-min sessions on separate days and were continuously exposed to the fragrance in either the first (F/NF) or second (NF/F) session.

Carpal tunnel syndrome and cubital tunnel syndrome: work-related musculoskeletal disorders in four symptomatic radiologists.

Objective: This report describes work-related upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders in four radiologists and identifies risk factors and preventive measures for these syndromes.

Subjects And Methods: Four radiologists with complaints of upper extremity pain, numbness, and weakness or a combination of symptoms were examined by an occupational therapist. The work activities and duties of all 12 staff radiologists in our filmless department were subsequently evaluated.

Computer environments for children: a review of design issues.

Ergonomic design considerations for computer use in schools are reviewed. Evidence for the postural effects of ergonomic furniture from worldwide studies is evaluated. Issues of furniture sizing and allocation methods are discussed.