Integrating Ergonomics and Cognitive Systems Engineering for Occupational Safety in Healthcare Work Systems: An Exploratory Study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61954/2616-7107/2026.10.2-7Keywords:
Cognitive Engineering, Decision-Making, Ergonomics, Human-System Interaction, System Performance.Abstract
Background. Healthcare work is shaped by a combination of physical effort and cognitive workloads. Prolonged exposure to these demands can contribute to musculoskeletal strain, fatigue, and risks to both patient and staff safety. Although Human Factors and Ergonomics (HFE) have been applied in healthcare for some time, less attention has been paid to the interaction between ergonomic conditions and Cognitive Systems Engineering (CSE) in everyday clinical work.
Purpose. This study aimed to explore how frontline healthcare professionals experienced ergonomic changes in relation to physical strain, cognitive load, and their ability to adapt to demanding clinical work environments.
Findings. This exploratory single-case study focused on ergonomic improvement initiatives implemented during 2022–2023 in a public general hospital in China and combined semi-structured interviews with non-participant observations involving 15 frontline healthcare professionals (7 doctors and 8 nurses) from five hospital units. The data were interpreted through an integrated ergonomics-CSE lens using thematic analysis. Three themes were identified: perceived reduction in physical workload, redistribution of cognitive load, and adaptation to stressful situations. Overall, 80.0% of the participants reported lower physical strain after the ergonomic changes. Nurses tended to highlight improvements in patient transfer and bedside care, whereas doctors more frequently cited fewer workflow interruptions and better concentration during procedures.
Implications. The integrated ergonomics-CSE perspective provides a useful way to understand the connections among physical working conditions, cognitive demands and adaptive practices in routine clinical work. In this single-case study, ergonomic initiatives were linked to safer task performance, enhanced task focus, and improved adaptation to demanding hospital environments. These findings indicate that this perspective can complement a broader sociotechnical framework when hospital managers make decisions on equipment procurement, workflow redesign, staff support, and ergonomic training priorities.
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