TY - JOUR
T1 - Validation of a task demand measure for predicting mental workloads of physical therapists
AU - Liang, Sheau Farn Max
AU - Rau, Chi Lun
AU - Tsai, Pei Fang
AU - Chen, Wen Shiuan
PY - 2014/9/1
Y1 - 2014/9/1
N2 - The purpose of this study is to validate an analytical method in assessing demanded mental workloads for physical therapists, and to discuss its possible ergonomics implications on the design of healthcare working systems in which physical therapists are considered as the users. A task analysis was first used to understand the operation steps of three identified physical therapies. Then, the McCracken-Aldrich technique was applied to assign ratings of mental workload demanded for performing each step of the therapies. Finally, the assigned ratings were validated by the analysis of correlation with the answers of the NASA-TLX questionnaire collected from seventeen physical therapists in the rehabilitation center of a university-affiliated hospital. Results showed that the proposed McCracken-Aldrich technique was suitable as an analysis tool for predicting metal workloads of physical therapists. Some possible implications about the information provision and user interface design for reducing therapists' mental workloads on current therapy operations were discussed. Relevance to industry: Results of this paper are expected to contribute the research and development in healthcare industry on its system design and workflow analysis.
AB - The purpose of this study is to validate an analytical method in assessing demanded mental workloads for physical therapists, and to discuss its possible ergonomics implications on the design of healthcare working systems in which physical therapists are considered as the users. A task analysis was first used to understand the operation steps of three identified physical therapies. Then, the McCracken-Aldrich technique was applied to assign ratings of mental workload demanded for performing each step of the therapies. Finally, the assigned ratings were validated by the analysis of correlation with the answers of the NASA-TLX questionnaire collected from seventeen physical therapists in the rehabilitation center of a university-affiliated hospital. Results showed that the proposed McCracken-Aldrich technique was suitable as an analysis tool for predicting metal workloads of physical therapists. Some possible implications about the information provision and user interface design for reducing therapists' mental workloads on current therapy operations were discussed. Relevance to industry: Results of this paper are expected to contribute the research and development in healthcare industry on its system design and workflow analysis.
KW - Healthcare working systems
KW - McCracken-Aldrich technique
KW - Mental workload
KW - NASA-TLX
KW - Physical therapy
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U2 - 10.1016/j.ergon.2014.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.ergon.2014.08.002
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84930621840
VL - 44
SP - 747
EP - 752
JO - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
JF - International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics
SN - 0169-8141
IS - 5
ER -