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Methodology for Establishing a Community-Wide Life Laboratory for Capturing Unobtrusive and Continuous Remote Activity and Health Data
Published on: July 27, 2018
Health Care Human Factors/Ergonomics Fieldwork in Home and Community Settings
Rupa S Valdez1, Richard J Holden2
1Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Virginia.
Human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) fieldwork in homes requires balancing participant and project needs. Strategies for optimizing fieldwork and mitigating challenges in community settings are provided.
Area of Science:
- Human Factors and Ergonomics
- Patient-Centered Design
- Community-Based Research
Background:
- Designing innovations requires understanding patient needs and workflow.
- Fieldwork in home and community settings presents unique challenges.
- Balancing priorities of participants, caregivers, study teams, and projects is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To offer strategies for optimizing human factors and ergonomics (HF/E) fieldwork.
- To mitigate challenges encountered in home and community settings.
- To support patient-centered innovation design through effective fieldwork.
Main Methods:
- Developing practical strategies for HF/E professionals.
- Focusing on fieldwork conducted in extra-institutional settings.
- Incorporating participant and project needs into fieldwork planning.
Main Results:
- Several strategies are proposed for before, during, and after fieldwork.
- Recommendations include respectful participant interaction and thorough documentation.
- Managing study team-participant relationships and IRB dialogue are key.
Conclusions:
- Effective fieldwork strategies are essential for successful patient-centered design.
- Mitigating challenges in community settings enhances data quality and participant experience.
- HF/E professionals can optimize fieldwork by implementing proposed strategies.
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