RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The science of human factors: separating fact from fiction
JF BMJ Quality & Safety
JO BMJ Qual Saf
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 802
OP 808
DO 10.1136/bmjqs-2012-001450
VO 22
IS 10
A1 Alissa L Russ
A1 Rollin J Fairbanks
A1 Ben-Tzion Karsh
A1 Laura G Militello
A1 Jason J Saleem
A1 Robert L Wears
YR 2013
UL http://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/22/10/802.abstract
AB Background Interest in human factors has increased across healthcare communities and institutions as the value of human centred design in healthcare becomes increasingly clear. However, as human factors is becoming more prominent, there is growing evidence of confusion about human factors science, both anecdotally and in scientific literature. Some of the misconceptions about human factors may inadvertently create missed opportunities for healthcare improvement. Methods The objective of this article is to describe the scientific discipline of human factors and provide common ground for partnerships between healthcare and human factors communities. Results The primary goal of human factors science is to promote efficiency, safety and effectiveness by improving the design of technologies, processes and work systems. As described in this article, human factors also provides insight on when training is likely (or unlikely) to be effective for improving patient safety. Finally, we outline human factors specialty areas that may be particularly relevant for improving healthcare delivery and provide examples to demonstrate their value. Conclusions The human factors concepts presented in this article may foster interdisciplinary collaborations to yield new, sustainable solutions for healthcare quality and patient safety.