Human factors design is the discipline concerned with the understanding and improvement of the interactions among humans and other elements of a system, such as technology, processes, workflows, teams, and environments12.
Human factors design aims to optimize human well-being and overall system performance, which includes patient safety12.
One of the domains of human factors design is physical ergonomics, which deals with the design of workplaces, equipment, and tasks to fit the physical capabilities and limitations of humans23.
A common problem in healthcare settings is the risk of occupational injuries and patient harm due to unsafe patient handling, such as lifting, transferring, or repositioning patients34.
A human factors design solution for this problem would be to provide new lift equipment that is accessible at the point of care, so that nursing staff can use it whenever they need to handle patients safely and comfortably34.
This solution would reduce the physical strain and fatigue on the nursing staff, as well as the potential for patient falls, pressure ulcers, or other adverse events34.
This solution would also improve the efficiency and quality of care, as nursing staff would spend less time and effort on patient handling and more time on other aspects of care34.
Therefore, option B is the best example of a human factors design solution for this scenario, as it addresses the physical ergonomics of the system and improves both human well-being and system performance.
Option A, development of an organizational minimal lift policy, is not a human factors design solution, but a policy intervention that may or may not be effective depending on the availability and usability of the lift equipment3.
Option C, a daily email with safe patient handling reminders, is not a human factors design solution, but a communication intervention that may or may not be followed by the nursing staff depending on their workload and motivation3.
Option D, an education module on safe patient handling, is not a human factors design solution, but a training intervention that may or may not be sufficient to change the behavior and skills of the nursing staff depending on the quality and frequency of the training3. References: 1: Human factors and ergonomics as a patient safety practice 2: Module 2: Human Factors Design: Applications for Healthcare 3: Human factors engineering can improve patient safety 4: Human factors engineering in patient safety
