Improving Work Flow Through Cognitive Ergonomics. An Intervention Study

NCT ID: NCT03573674

Last Updated: 2020-04-06

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 927 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-11-01
• Study Completion Date: 2019-10-31

Brief Summary

The main aim of the SujuKE study is to test the effectiveness of workplace cognitive ergonomics development program designed to decrease cognitively disrupting work conditions and work-related cognitive stress, and to improve work flow. The cognitive ergonomics workplace intervention includes cognitive ergonomics workshop, work experiments, and intervention task questionnaires. Its effect on changes in subjective measures of work conditions, work flow, stress, and work productivity will be studied. The hypothesis is that cognitive ergonomics intervention decreases the level of cognitive strain related to work conditions, and this change is associated with higher level in work flow, well-being, and productivity at work.

Detailed Description

In the modern work life, performing work tasks rely on cognitive function, i.e. mental processes that are involved in processing information, such as attention, working memory, decision making and learning. Furthermore, the conditions at work include situations that require cognitive capacity. Information overload, multitasking and interruptions are typical features in any work. Thus, in the modern work life, work is knowledge work or information work by nature, and cognitive strain is a notable psychosocial risk factor. Not only task demands per se can exceed natural limitations of human cognitive capacities, but also the conditions at work can make it demanding for a human to perform.

Research shows that psychosocial stress, including cognitive stress, challenges wellbeing, safety and productivity at work. Cognitively straining conditions, such as disruptions, interruptions and information overload are related to higher levels of work stress, occupational accidents, and cognitive failures at work. It is essential to decrease harmful consequences to individual workers, organizations, and the society by managing psychosocial risks typical to cognitively demanding work tasks and conditions.

SujuKE study focuses on ergonomics (or human factors) practices that aim to ensure 'appropriate interaction between work, product and environment, and human needs, capabilities and limitations'. In cognitive ergonomics, the focus is on making human-system interaction compatible with human cognitive abilities and limitations, particularly at work. The aim is to apply general principles and good practices of cognitive ergonomics that help to avoid unnecessary cognitive load at work and that improve human performance.

The aim of the SujuKE study is to improve the conditions of knowledge work and promote the flow of work and reduce work strain. There are studies which show that decreasing disruptions, providing uninterrupted working time, and reducing information may lead to improved work flow and productivity. In the SujuKE-study, several sources of cognitive strain are restricted and concrete methods to help improve cognitive ergonomics will be worked on and implemented at workplace. The objective of the project is to obtain research evidence of the effects of cognitive ergonomics development programme on working conditions, the flow of work, well-being at work, and the productivity at work.

During the SujuKE project, the investigators will implement measures at the workplace that aim to facilitate work and reduce strain. The objective of the project is to obtain research evidence of the effects of these measures on working conditions, the flow of work, well-being at work, and the productivity at work. The study is carried out by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health (FIOH) and funded by the Finnish Work Environment Fund.

Conditions

Ergonomics

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Cognitive ergonomics Intervention

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

CE - Cognitive Ergonomics (KERGO)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

CE "Cognitive ergonomics Intervention" deals with themes such as disruptions, interruptions, information overload.

A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Stress management Intervention

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

RS - Recovery Support (KUORMA)

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

RS "Recovery Support / Stress Management Intervention" deals with themes such as workload management, recovery, work-family balance.

A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Passive control

"Passive Control" groups receive no intervention at all.

Group Type: NO_INTERVENTION

No interventions assigned to this group

Interventions

CE - Cognitive Ergonomics (KERGO)

CE "Cognitive ergonomics Intervention" deals with themes such as disruptions, interruptions, information overload.

A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

RS - Recovery Support (KUORMA)

RS "Recovery Support / Stress Management Intervention" deals with themes such as workload management, recovery, work-family balance.

A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Intervention Type: BEHAVIORAL

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• The participating organization offers several comparable teams (regarding type of tasks and demands) for study
• The participating units (in organizations) include knowledge workers, such as office workers and experts

Whose

• work tasks are cognitively rather than physically demanding
• work requires learning and updating knowledge and skills
• information and communication technology is the main tool at work.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 70 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

Finnish Work Environment Fund

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Virpi SS Kalakoski, Dr

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Locations

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Helsinki, Etelä-Suomi, Finland

Countries

Finland

References

Kalakoski V, Selinheimo S, Valtonen T, Turunen J, Kapykangas S, Ylisassi H, Toivio P, Jarnefelt H, Hannonen H, Paajanen T. Effects of a cognitive ergonomics workplace intervention (CogErg) on cognitive strain and well-being: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. A study protocol. BMC Psychol. 2020 Jan 2;8(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s40359-019-0349-1.

Reference Type: DERIVED

PMID: 31898551 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

117155

Identifier Type: OTHER_GRANT

Identifier Source: secondary_id

117155

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id