Skip to main content

Workload Assessment and Human Error Identification During the Task of Taking a Plain Abdominal Radiograph: A Case Study

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Advances in Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering (AHFE 2017)

Abstract

The following research, presents a case study of cognitive analyses of the tasks made by radiology technicians in a Mexican hospital. These professionals attend patients with different health conditions; likewise, they need to prepare the x-ray machine and position the patient correctly. For this reason, this study will determine the mental workload assessment and identify human errors of the procedure of taking a plain abdominal radiography. As results, a hierarchical task analysis diagram is presented, NASA TLX method found highest scores on physical and temporary demands. Recurrent human errors were the incorrect voltage and amperage adjustment and the incorrect identification of the patient using TAFEI method. Action for human error prevention is recommended. In addition, some digital support may be required to input patient’s data and provide additional training sessions on those tasks with the greater mental workload and human error probability.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Baber, C., Stanton, N.A.: Human error identification techniques applied to public technology: predictions compared with observed use. Appl. Ergon. 27(2), 119–131 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1016/0003-6870(95)00067-4

  2. Clark, R., Estes, F.: Cognitive task analysis for training. Int. J. Educ. Res. 25, 403–417 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0883-0355(97)81235-9

  3. Creus, A.: Fiabilidad y Seguridad. Marcombo Ediciones Técnicas, Spain (2005)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Fridell, K., Edgren, L., Lindsköld, L., Aspelin, P., Lundberg, N.: The impact of PACS on radiologists’ work practice. J. Digit. Imaging 20(4), 411–421 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-006-1054-1

  5. Gael, S.: Job descriptions. In: The Job Analysis Handbook for Business, Industry and Government, vol. 1, pp. 71–86 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Hilburn, B.: Engineering psychology and cognitive ergonomics. In: Harris, D. (ed.) Proceedings of 7th International Conference, EPCE 2007, Held as Part of HCI International 2007, Beijing, China, 22–27 July 2007, pp. 497–503. Springer, Heidelberg (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-73331-7_54

  7. Human Performance Research Group: NASA TASK LOAD INDEX (TLX), Moffett Field, California (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Militello, L.G., Hutton, R.J.: Applied cognitive task analysis: a practitioner’s toolkit for understanding cognitive task demands. Ergonomics 41, 1618–1641 (1998)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Parasuraman, R., Hancock, P.A.: Adaptive control of mental workload. In: Desmond, P.A., Hancock, P.A. (eds.) Stress, Workload and Fatigue, pp. 305–320. Lawrence Erlbaum, New Jersey (2001)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Radiology Tech School. What kind of work does a radiology tech do day to day? (2012). http://onlineradiologytechnicianschools.com/what-kind-of-work-does-a-radiology-tech-do-day-to-day/. Accessed 15 Apr 2016

  11. Radiology Technician. Job Description (2016). http://www.radiology-technician.com/job-description/#.Vw-xjPkrLIV. Accessed 14 Apr 2016

  12. Reason, J.: Human Error. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge (1990)

    Book  Google Scholar 

  13. Sanders, M., McCormick, E. (eds.): Human Factors in Engineering & Design, 7th edn. McGraw Hill, New York (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Stanton, N.A.: Behavioral and cognitive methods. In: Stanton, N., Hedge, A., Brookhuis, K., Salas, E., Hendrick, H.W. (eds.) Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods. Taylor & Francis Group, Boca Raton (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Stanton, N.A., Baber, C.: On the cost-effectiveness of ergonomics. Appl. Ergon. 34(5), 407–411 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1016/S0003-6870(03)00060-7

  16. Stanton, N.A., Salmon, P., Rafferty, L., Walker, G., Baber, C., Jenkins, D.: Human Factors Methods: A Practical Guide for Engineering and Design, 2nd edn. Ashgate, Farnham (2013)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Tsang, P.S.: Mental workload. In: Karwowsky, W. (ed.) International Encyclopedia of Ergonomic and Human Factor, pp. 809–812. Taylor & Francis Group, Kentucky (2006)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Welford, A.T.: Mental workload as a function of demand, capacity, strategy and skill. Ergonomics 21, 151–167 (1978)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Young, M., Stanton, N.: Mental workload. In: Stanton, N., Hedge, A., Brookhuis, K., Salas, E., Hendrick, H. (eds.) Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics Methods, pp. 39.1–39.7. CRC Press, United States (2005)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aide Aracely Maldonado-Macías .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2018 Springer International Publishing AG

About this paper

Cite this paper

Alferez-Padron, C., Maldonado-Macías, A.A., García-Alcaraz, J., Avelar-Sosa, L., Realyvasquez-Vargas, A. (2018). Workload Assessment and Human Error Identification During the Task of Taking a Plain Abdominal Radiograph: A Case Study. In: Baldwin, C. (eds) Advances in Neuroergonomics and Cognitive Engineering. AHFE 2017. Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing, vol 586. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60642-2_10

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60642-2_10

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-60641-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-60642-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics