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The aim of the study was to present the basic principles of ergonomics during a child’s learning and play, taking into account the principles of physiotherapy regarding the positions adopted by the child. Biomechanical and kinesiological aspects of sitting posture and additional support points were described in detail. Correct and incorrect sitting positions were illustrated in the figures, with detailed descriptions provided in the text of the study, supported by legal regulations. The study can serve as a guide for children and parents on the discussed topic, but only for children and adolescents without existing postural abnormalities. In case of any postural defects or spinal deformities, it is advisable to consult a physiotherapist to approach each case individually.

ObjectiveThe objective of the study is to compare and investigate the combined and individual effects of workstation ergonomics, physiotherapy and patient education in improving CgH headaches and work ability in office workers.Methods96 eligible CgH participants were divided into the ergonomics modifications group (EMG; n = 24), physiotherapy group (PTG; n = 24), and ergonomics modifications combined with physiotherapy group (EPG; n = 24) and education control group (CNG; n = 24), the participants received the respective treatment for 4 weeks. Primary (CgH frequency) and secondary (CgH pain intensity, CgH disability, flexion rotation test (right and left), neck disability index and work ability) scores were measured. The effects of treatment at various intervals were analyzed with a 4 × 4 linear mixed model analysis (LMM) between treatment groups and time intervals.ResultsFour weeks following training EPG group showed more significant changes in primary outcome CgH frequency; 4.6 CI 95% 3.63 to 5.56 when compare to control group. The same gradual improvement was noticed at 8 weeks 8.2 CI 95% 7.53 to 8.86 and at 6 months follow up 11.9 CI 95% 11.25 to 12.54 when compare to other groups (p = 0.001) which is statistically 52.97% improvement. Similar improvements can be seen in the secondary outcome measures such as CgH pain intensity, CgH disability, flexion rotation test (right and left), neck disability index and work ability in EPG group than the EMG, PTG, and CNG groups (p = 0.001) at 4 weeks, 8 weeks and at 6 months’ follow-up.ConclusionThis study observed that the workstation ergonomics and physiotherapy group experienced significantly more improvements in cervicogenic headache patients.Clinical trial registrationIdentifier NCT05827185

This paper begins with the medical digital ultrasonic imaging workstations' development history and stages of PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication Systems). We analyze the actual application scenarios and pain points in medical digital ultrasonic imaging and introduce the support of medical digital ultrasonic imaging workstations for the entire business process. At the same time, we explain the role of AI functions in promoting business improvements throughout the process, using Shenzhen Maternal and Child Health Hospital as an application case study. This paper also discusses the difficulties faced by the development of AI in medical digital ultrasonic imaging and provides some solutions and suggestions. We offer a perspective on the future development of artificial intelligence in medical digital ultrasonic imaging. We explore potential application scenarios in areas such as empowering the ultrasound process with intelligent management, ultrasound consultation, cloud-based electronic films, and the Internet of Things (IoT) services.

Wearables offer a promising solution for simultaneous posture monitoring and/or corrective feedback. The main objective was to identify, synthesise, and characterise the wearables used in the workplace to monitor and postural feedback to workers. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed. Studies were included between 1 January 2000 and 22 March 2023 in Spanish, French, English, and Portuguese without geographical restriction. The databases selected for the research were PubMed®, Web of Science®, Scopus®, and Google Scholar®. Qualitative studies, theses, reviews, and meta-analyses were excluded. Twelve studies were included, involving a total of 304 workers, mostly health professionals (n = 8). The remaining studies covered workers in the industry (n = 2), in the construction (n = 1), and welders (n = 1). For assessment purposes, most studies used one (n = 5) or two sensors (n = 5) characterised as accelerometers (n = 7), sixaxial (n = 2) or nonaxialinertial measurement units (n = 3). The most common source of feedback was the sensor itself (n = 6) or smartphones (n = 4). Haptic feedback was the most prevalent (n = 6), followed by auditory (n = 5) and visual (n = 3). Most studies employed prototype wearables emphasising kinematic variables of human movement. Healthcare professionals were the primary focus of the study along with haptic feedback that proved to be the most common and effective method for correcting posture during work activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Annales Academiae Medicae Silesiensis is the property of Medical University of Silesia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Open-plan offices have become widely adopted in various industries as a workplace environment. However, this office layout type suffers from speech privacy, which can be represented by the acoustic parameter known as the Speech Transmission Index (STI). ISO 3382-3:2012 provides guidelines for calculating the acoustic parameters of a room tailored explicitly for open-plan offices. However, the existing method in ISO 3382-3:2012 requires a parallel layout of workstations to determine the STI value, which is hardly found in modern office settings. This study presents a technique to predict the ideal values of rP and rD, based on the relationship between %Alcons and the Speech Transmission Index (STI) for a specific workstation, using linear regression and in-situ measurements. The analysis of acoustic conditions in an open-plan office reveals that modified techniques can predict the acoustic quality in a modern office layout. The D2, S values indicate good acoustic quality, but the Lp, A, S,4m values do not meet the required standard. Using %Alcons equations, the study shows how to predict distraction distances and categorize workstations as 'Distracted' or 'Not distracted'. The results indicate only a small percentage of workstations allow for private communication.

Copyright of Revista Producao Online is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Engenharia de Producao and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective To investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal problems reported by phlebotomists, and the association of these problems with workstation characteristics and personal factors. Methods Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to phlebotomists (n = 115; 65.2% response rate). In addition to the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, we asked respondents to provide sociodemographic data. An ergonomic score was used for the characterization of workstations. Results Symptoms in at least 1 body area within a year were reported by 80.7% of the participants. The lower back, neck, and shoulders were the most common areas in which symptoms occurred (72.7%, 60.9%, and 59%, respectively); these were also the areas with the highest incidence of symptoms disrupting work. A logistic regression model for predicting pain within a year found adequate leg space as a significant component of the ergonomic score (P  = .045, OR = 0.222), which was also a protective factor for neck pain disrupting work (P  = .047, OR = 0.385). Conclusions Musculoskeletal problems among phlebotomists were high. Therefore, the positive effects of simple ergonomic measures should be confirmed in further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect of one's sex and pedaling intensity on upper body muscle activation patterns during typing while cycling. Background: Females are at a higher risk for computer work-related musculoskeletal disorders, and mobile workstations have been suggested to induce healthier muscular patterns compared with sitting. However, the neuromuscular characteristics of performing computer work in a cycling workstation have not been investigated. Method: Twenty-two participants (10 females) completed a 60-min computer typing task while pedaling on a cycle ergometer at two different intensities (25%, 4% heart rate reserve). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from seven muscles of the upper body. Effects of time, sex, and intensity were assessed for muscle activation (RMS), activation variability (CV), and normalized mutual information (NMI) via generalized estimating equations. Results: With time, neck/shoulder CV increased in males during higher pedaling intensity, whereas in females it decreased during lower intensity. In females, RMS of neck/shoulder and NMI of neck/shoulder muscle pairs were lower, whereas forearm RMS was 34.2% higher with higher intensity cycling compared with lower intensity. Lower back RMS decreased 28.3% in the initial half of the task in females, but in males it increased 14.4% in the later half. Conclusion and application: Cycling workstation showed a sex- and intensity-specific EMG response. These differing responses should be considered when implementing the use of cycling workstation and may be important for preventing/managing sex-specific muscle fatigue and musculoskeletal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Collaborative robots are revolutionising the manufacturing industry and the way workers perform their tasks. When designing shared workspaces between robots and humans, human factors and ergonomics are often overlooked. This study assessed the relationship between cognitive workload, workstation design, user acceptance and trust in collaborative robots. We combined subjective and objective data to evaluate the cognitive workload during an assembly task in three different scenarios in which we manipulated various features of the workstation and interaction modalities. Our results showed that participants experienced a reduction in cognitive workload in each of the three trials, indicating an improvement in cognitive performance. Additionally, we found that user acceptance predicted perceived stress across the trials but did not significantly impact the cognitive workload. Trust was not found to moderate the relationship between cognitive workload and perceived stress. This study has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of collaborative assembly systems by providing valuable insights and helping to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners. This study can potentially impact companies looking to improve safety, productivity and efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Salud UIS is the property of Universidad Industrial de Santander and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objectives: The pelvic floor muscle (PFM) plays a major role in sexual and urinary functions. No objective method exists to measure the PFM in male. This study evaluated the reliability of male PFM volume using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT)., Methods: PFMs of five patients aged 43-83 years were selectively extracted from thin-slice CT using a workstation to reconstruct stereoscopic images and measure PFM volume. Two raters measured the PFM volume three times in all patients to confirm the reliability of PFM volume measurement. Intra- and inter-rater correlation coefficients, i.e., intraclass correlation coefficient, were determined. The CT attenuation of PFMs was also evaluated., Results: Raters 1 and 2 reported an average PFM volume of 46.4 ± 11.5 cm 3 and 46.1 ± 12.5 cm 3 , respectively. The intra- and inter-rater correlation coefficients were 0.99 and 0.98, respectively. The average CT value of PFMs had a minimum of 13.7 Hounsfield Unit (HU) in the eldest male and a maximum of 38.9 HU in the youngest male., Conclusions: Male PFMs could be selectively extracted using a workstation to reconstruct a stereoscopic image. The PFM volume measurement is feasible and highly reproducible. To our knowledge, this is the first study that standardizes the method for measuring the male PFM volume using 3D-CT and examines its reliability., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflict of interests to declare. Yoshifumi Tamura, one of the Editorial Board members of JMJ was not involved in the peer review or decision-making process for this paper., (© 2024 The Juntendo Medical Society.)

Silk degumming and dyeing are considered high ergonomics risk procedures for workers because they have to stand working, bent and perk their faces, twist their bodies, and wrists during the processes. These affect the Surface Electromyography (sEMG) especially the lower back which is a significant problem affecting the production efficiency, and workers' health and safety. This study aims at improving the workstation to reduce muscle aches during silk degumming and dyeing in the silk weaving procession in Nakhon Ratchasima province. The data was collected using anthropometric measurements for standing work on 400 workers in silk degumming and dyeing. The data was used to improve the degumming and dyeing aid equipment. The study found that degumming and dyeing using the traditional degumming and dyeing equipment gave a higher sEMG rate and amplitude of upper trapezius muscles than the degumming and dyeing aid equipment. This meant higher tissue load and muscular fatigue. This could reduce the time for the silk degumming and dyeing at the rate of 30.09%.

Without any doubt, we are living in a very modern, sophisticated, and computerized world, in which a great part of the activities done in the past by workers, are now carried out by machines or intelligent devices, capable to communicate with the environment and to make decisions according to the information received from there. The ergonomics science adapted during the time, introducing in its area of study the effects of the human-computer interaction, the new forms of stress, and the new factors which are affecting the work at the workstations. However, there are still workplaces where physical work is prevalent and where it is necessary to analyze the work conditions to improve them and to avoid injuries during the work. This study is based on the research which has used ergonomic analysis, namely the LEST method for the optimization of the work of handler workers at a Romanian company with several working points in different regions of the country. The working points are equipped with different endowments depending on the period when they operate. The study reveals that the handlers are facing different problems at their workstations depending on the technical level of the equipment they use and the organization of the work. The same tasks lead to different perceptions and different levels of fatigue for the workers. The ergonomic analysis offers the possibility to identify the stress factors for each workstation and optimize them to provide optimum work conditions in which the worker can perform in the best way.

Abstract Background As the health risks of sedentary working environments become more clear, greater emphasis on the implementation of walking interventions to reduce sitting time is needed. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigate the role of treadmill-desk interventions on energy expenditure, sitting time, and cardiometabolic health in adults with sedentary occupations. Methods Relevant studies published in English were identified using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases up to December 2020. Random effects meta-analysis models were used to pool study results. Results Thirteen relevant studies (six workplaces and seven laboratories) were found with a total of 351 participants. Pooled analysis of laboratory studies showed a significant increase in energy expenditure (105.23 kcal per hour, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.41 to 120.4), as well as metabolic rate (5.0 mL/kg/min, 95% CI: 3.35 to 6.64), among treadmill desk users compared to sitting conditions. No evidence of significant differences in blood pressure were found. In workplace studies, we observed a significant reduction in sitting time over a 24-h period (− 1.73 min per hour, 95% CI: − 3.3 to − 0.17) among users of treadmill desks, compared to a conventional desk. However, there were no evidence of statistically significant changes in other metabolic outcomes. Conclusions Treadmill desks offer a feasible and effective intervention to increase energy expenditure and metabolic rate and reduce sitting time while performing work-related tasks. Future studies are needed to increase generalizability to different workplace settings and further evaluate their impact on cardiometabolic health.

This study evaluated the ergonomic performance of drivers’ workstations in southwest Nigeria. Fifty urban buses selected from ten brands were investigated by direct measurement. The buses were mini-A and midi-B. Vertical and horizontal distances of the seat reference point to the pedal and steering wheel, with the seat dimensions were considered. The anthropometric dimensions of 150 male bus drivers were taken from South-west Nigeria. The results revealed that the values for driver’s seat height from the cabin floor, seat backrest height, seat shoulder level width and low back width were 44.00- 50.00cm, 53.00-58.15cm, 40.00-50.00cm and - 40.15cm respectively as against 39.15- 43.00cm, 38.75-49.49cm, 34.60-43.59cm and 45.73-53.25cm respectively in the urban bus workstations. It is concluded that the drivers’ workstations in the urban buses were not ergonomically fit for the bus drivers since the anthropometric dimension of the Nigerian male bus drivers were not considered in the designing of the buses.

Introduction: Carpet-weaving is one of the hard and harmful jobs, which affect the health of the workforce. Based on the previously conducted research, musculoskeletal disorders in the neck, shoulder, and lower back regions are common among carpet weavers. This study conducted to investigate the muscle activity of the shoulder and lower back regions in carpet weavers during work on traditional and ergonomic workstations by surface electromyography. Material and Methods: 18 experienced male weavers with a mean age of 38 and mean weaving experience of 11.1 years participated in this study. Each weaver took part in two trails of 120 min. Surface EMG signal recordings were done during weaving for four muscles (bilaterally in trapezius and erector spine). The RMS and MPF values were extracted from the raw EMG signal to estimate muscle activity and fatigue. Results: The results obtained from the 5-time intervals indicated the lowered MPF in the ergonomic workstation compared to the traditional one. The result of the mean RMS in most of the recorded times was lower in the ergonomic workstation than that in the traditional one. Conclusion: According to the results of the study, the modified workstation was well-suited for trapezius muscles, and the traditional one had an advantage for the erector spine muscles.

There is considered the elaboration of requirements for the software of automated workplace of the dispatcher of fire and rescue unit. The elaboration of requirements for display format of information on the monitor screen in fire notification transmission systems is also examined. There are proposed variants of information displaying on the monitor of automated workstation, taking into account the presentation of various information attributes, such as: the setup menu, the field for displaying the plan of protected object, the icon field for managing information and its acknowledgment, the field of counter of alarms’ number, the field for changing objects parameters, etc.

As a result of COVID-19, many office buildings around the world have downsized their employees, but the comfort parameters in the building had to be kept. The facilities operation rearranged the workstations to keep physical distance and placed plexiglass sheets on the desks for physical protection. A series of measurements have been carried out with workstation set-ups to examine the fresh air rate in the occupied zone. The effect of plexiglass sheets placed on the desks was also examined to see how it changes the airflow pattern in the occupied zone. As the sheets act as a barrier, the primary air does not reach the occupied zone, therefore, the fresh air rate is less. To modify the properties of the ceiling diffusers a new air-ventilation service element was developed. This attachment allows modifying the properties of the ceiling diffusers. Simulations were made at the relevant zones to validate the measurements. Based on design software, the fresh air ratio for a standard ceiling swirl diffuser is 2.46 v% (volume percentage). A numerical model was used to show the fresh air ratio with the system elements for the two different table arrangements, which were 18.3 v% and 21.4 v%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study analyzes an existing scenario of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) associated with the ergonomic hazard of the aluminum formwork workstation and its workers. Aluminum form-workers have increasing evidence of MSDs from repetitive tasks such as the adjustment, alignment of pins, pulling, pushing, and installation of panels, because of the cumulative exposure to ergonomic risks. Existing research indicates that this is due to insufficient expertise, form-worker awareness, and a complex construction plan. Using the Tecnomatix process simulate, this study aims to identify awkward postures during the process of lifting, assembling, and installing formwork to quantify MSDs and assess the ergonomic risk of aluminum form-workers and provide simple solutions. This simulation method makes use of input data from a random sample of 92 participants retrieved from four construction sites. The Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA), Ovako Working Analysis System (OWAS) scores, and Energy Expenditure Rate (EER) for three identified awkward cases were determined to be unsatisfactory, unsafe, and acceptable with suggested alternatives. The ergonomic scores correspond to various bodily stresses, allowing workers to better understand which body parts experience major stress when performing manual jobs. The suggested integrated preventive ergonomics system reduces MSDs and improves how people interact with their surroundings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the dependability of a computer system composed of four workstations, three hubs and two routers. Subsystem 1 consists of workstations A1, A2, A3, and A4 that are parallel and linked to Subsystem 2 (hubs B1, B2 and B3), while Subsystem 3 router consists of C1 and C2 that are also parallel to each other. Each subsystem is assigned a human operator (H1, H2, and H3). To assess the system's reliability, a system of first order partial differential equations is derived from the system's transition diagram and solved using the supplementary variables technique and Laplace transforms. It is assumed that workstation, hub, and router failure times follow an exponential distribution, whereas repair times follow a general distribution and the Gumbel-Hougaard family copula distribution. Reliability measures of testing system effectiveness, such as reliability, availability, MTTF, and cost function, are developed and investigated. Tables and graphs show some of the most important findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Desk-based workers are highly sedentary; this has been identified as an emerging work health and safety issue. To reduce workplace sitting time and promote physical activity it is important to understand what factors are already present within workplaces to inform future interventions. This cross-sectional study examined the prevalence of supportive environmental factors, prior to workplaces taking part in a ‘sit less, move more’ initiative (BeUpstanding). Participants were 291 Australian-based workplace champions (representing 230 organisations) who unlocked the BeUpstanding program’s online toolkit between September 2017 and mid-November 2020, and who completed surveys relating to champion characteristics, organisation and workplace characteristics, and the availability of environmental factors to support sitting less and moving more. Factors were characterized using descriptive statistics and compared across key sectors and factor categories (spatial; resources/initiatives; policy/cultural) using mixed logistic regression models. Of the 42 factors measured, only 11 were present in > 50% of workplaces. Spatial design factors were more likely to be present than resources/initiatives or policy/cultural factors. Centralised printers were the most commonly reported attribute (94%), while prompts to encourage stair use were the least common (4%). Most workplace factors with

Collaborative robots are revolutionising the manufacturing industry and the way workers perform their tasks. When designing shared workspaces between robots and humans, human factors and ergonomics are often overlooked. This study assessed the relationship between cognitive workload, workstation design, user acceptance and trust in collaborative robots. We combined subjective and objective data to evaluate the cognitive workload during an assembly task in three different scenarios in which we manipulated various features of the workstation and interaction modalities. Our results showed that participants experienced a reduction in cognitive workload in each of the three trials, indicating an improvement in cognitive performance. Additionally, we found that user acceptance predicted perceived stress across the trials but did not significantly impact the cognitive workload. Trust was not found to moderate the relationship between cognitive workload and perceived stress. This study has the potential to make a significant contribution to the field of collaborative assembly systems by providing valuable insights and helping to bridge the gap between researchers and practitioners. This study can potentially impact companies looking to improve safety, productivity and efficiency.

Background: As the health risks of sedentary working environments become more clear, greater emphasis on the implementation of walking interventions to reduce sitting time is needed. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigate the role of treadmill-desk interventions on energy expenditure, sitting time, and cardiometabolic health in adults with sedentary occupations.Methods: Relevant studies published in English were identified using CINAHL, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases up to December 2020. Random effects meta-analysis models were used to pool study results.Results: Thirteen relevant studies (six workplaces and seven laboratories) were found with a total of 351 participants. Pooled analysis of laboratory studies showed a significant increase in energy expenditure (105.23 kcal per hour, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 90.41 to 120.4), as well as metabolic rate (5.0 mL/kg/min, 95% CI: 3.35 to 6.64), among treadmill desk users compared to sitting conditions. No evidence of significant differences in blood pressure were found. In workplace studies, we observed a significant reduction in sitting time over a 24-h period (- 1.73 min per hour, 95% CI: - 3.3 to - 0.17) among users of treadmill desks, compared to a conventional desk. However, there were no evidence of statistically significant changes in other metabolic outcomes.Conclusions: Treadmill desks offer a feasible and effective intervention to increase energy expenditure and metabolic rate and reduce sitting time while performing work-related tasks. Future studies are needed to increase generalizability to different workplace settings and further evaluate their impact on cardiometabolic health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the interactive effects of display curvature radius and display size on visual search accuracy, visual search speed, and visual fatigue. Background: Although the advantages of curved displays have been reported, little is known about the interactive effects of display curvature radius and size. Method: Twenty-seven individuals performed visual search tasks at a viewing distance of 50 cm using eight configurations involving four display curvature radii (400R, 600R, 1200R, and flat) and two display sizes (33″ and 50″). To simulate curved screens, five flat display panels were horizontally arranged with their centers concentrically repositioned following each display curvature radius. Results: For accuracy, speed, and fatigue, 33″–600R and 50″–600R provided the best or comparable-to-best results, whereas 50″–flat provided the worst results. For accuracy and fatigue, 33″–flat was the second worst. The changes in the horizontal field of view and viewing angle due to display curvature as well as the association between effective display curvature radii and empirical horopter (loci of perceived equidistance) can explain these results. Conclusion: The interactive effects of display curvature radius and size were evident for visual search performance and fatigue. Beneficial effects of curved displays were maintained across 33″ and 50″, whereas increasing flat display size from 33″ to 50″ was detrimental. Application: For visual search tasks at a viewing distance of 50 cm, 33″–600R and 50″ 600R displays are recommended, as opposed to 33″ and 50″ flat displays. Wide flat displays must be carefully considered for visual display terminal tasks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Numerous references indicate that the subjectively assessed tonal noise annoyance is higher than that of broadband noise. There are no criteria for the impact of tonal noise in assessing the occupational environment for both indoor areas and workplaces. Materials and Methods: The study participants included 50 people who met the audiometric qualification criteria. The research method employed both a questionnaire survey and computer psychological tests checking work performance, attention level, and memory. Four types of generated test signals were developed (filtered noise − A and three signals with tonal components 125, 1600, and 8000 Hz − B, C, and D) at the same sound level A of 55 dB. Test signals C and D were assessed as causing the greatest annoyance and as the loudest. Results: The results of some tests and the assessment of annoyance and of the volume of test signals containing medium and high frequency tonal components were correlated with the participants' noise sensitivity, determined on the basis of a questionnaire. Although there are no statistically significant differences, it was observed in most cases for signals with C (1600 Hz) and D (8000 Hz) tonal components that the results (mean values or median values) of psychological tests deteriorated with respect to a noise signal without tonal components (A) − a smaller number of calculations, a smaller number of correct responses, more errors made. Conclusion: These results, combined with those of the questionnaire survey, justify the introduction of the tonality annoyance criterion for workstations where, among other things, focusing one's attention is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of graphic narratives, defined as stories that use images for narration, is growing in health communication. Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the design and implementation of a graphic narrative screensaver (GNS) to communicate a guideline recommendation (ie, avoiding low-value acid suppressive therapy [AST] use in hospital inpatients) and examine the comparative effectiveness of the GNS versus a text-based screensaver (TBS) on clinical practice (ie, low-value AST prescriptions) and clinician recall. Methods: During a 2-year period, the GNS and the TBS were displayed on inpatient clinical workstations. The numbers of new AST prescriptions were examined in the four quarters before, the three quarters during, and the one quarter after screensavers were implemented. Additionally, an electronic survey was sent to resident physicians 1 year after the intervention to assess screensaver recall. Results: Designing an aesthetically engaging graphic that could be rapidly understood was critical in the development of the GNS. The odds of receiving an AST prescription on medicine and medicine subspecialty services after the screensavers were implemented were lower for all four quarters (ie, GNS and TBS broadcast together, only TBS broadcast, only GNS broadcast, and no AST screensavers broadcast) compared to the quarter prior to implementation (odds ratio [OR] 0.85, 95% CI 0.78-0.92; OR 0.89, 95% CI 0.82-0.97; OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.80-0.95; and OR 0.81, 95% CI 0.75-0.89, respectively; P<.001 for all comparisons). There were no statistically significant decreases for other high-volume services, such as the surgical services. These declines appear to have begun prior to screensaver implementation. When surveyed about the screensaver content 1 year later, resident physicians recalled both the GNS and TBS (43/70, 61%, vs 54/70, 77%; P=.07) and those who recalled the screensaver were more likely to recall the main message of the GNS compared to the TBS (30/43, 70%, vs 1/54, 2%; P<.001). Conclusions: It is feasible to use a graphic narrative embedded in a broadcast screensaver to communicate a guideline recommendation, but further study is needed to determine the impact of graphic narratives on clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Due to multiple reasons like prolonged sitting and postural demands, software engineers are prone to develop musculoskeletal problems, which can be easily alleviated by practicing proper Ergonomic posture in their workstation. The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of Ergonomics Principles and Workplace Practice among the software engineers working in a private firm. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 403 software engineers working in a private firm, Chennai. Results: Among the 403 study participants, 85.6% had musculoskeletal problem in any area of focus. Only 9% had adequate ergonomic knowledge and only fewer among them practice it adequately. Conclusion: The study revealed higher prevalence of musculoskeletal problem, lower prevalence of knowledge about Ergonomic principles and much lower prevalence of appropriate practice of Ergonomic principles. This can be alleviated by a simple primary care like ergonomic education and practising.

Introduction: Computer becomes a highly used and essential tool in daily life. This also applies to occupational level. However, there are risk factors in using the computer within daily life while working, one of them is the posture while working in front of computer. Due to the risk factors, computer workers develop complaint in upper extremities, but they tend to ignore it. The complaint silently decreases their life quality, efficiency, and productivity. This study aimed to find the correlation between human posture and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD). Methods: This was an observational analytic study, using total sampling technique. The subjects were the computer workers in Indonesian State Owned Enterprises in Surabaya. They were given NMQ for mapping the distribution of complaint. Observational sheets were provided to assess the human posture using NERPA Assessment Worksheet. Spearman’s rank method was used to observe the correlation between human posture and MSD. Result: 112 chosen subjects were involved. Human posture showed large correlation with MSD. This was calculated using alpha value 0.05 for the significance. Conclusion: There is a correlation between human posture and MSD among computer workers at Indonesian State Owned Enterprises in Surabaya.

Using the method of synthesis of the information model at the automated workstation of the air traffic control dispatcher, a fragment of the user interface at the automated workstation of the radar control dispatcher of the Minsk district control center was synthesized, which allows to simulate the stages of the dispatcher's activity in the automated air traffic control system at the modern level of air traffic intensity. The verification of the adequacy and effectiveness of the synthesized user interface fragment was carried out directly with the participation of experts and specialists with experience in such systems. The adequacy of the synthesized user interface fragment was evaluated using a known consent criterion. The evaluation of the efficiency of the synthesized fragment of the user interface of the environment at the dispatcher's automated workstation was carried out under conditions of high air traffic intensity, which force the radar control dispatcher to control in critical mode of operation. Shows the advantage of a synthesized user interface fragment over an existing user interface in terms of time and accuracy. In general, the synthesized user interface fragment exceeds the existing one by about thirty percent. The synthesized user interface fragment noted the more stable activities of the subjects, as well as their better learning capability compared to the existing user interface. The developed experiment scheme allows to carry out research of engineering and psychological factors in human-machine systems of special purpose, including analysis of user interfaces at automated workstations of dispatching personnel in existing automated systems of air traffic control for their assessment and further improvement.

Background:Neck disorder is a common complaint in computer users which affects the task performance and fatigue. Several studies confirmed the relation between neck discomfort and working with a computer. But focusing on the root risk factors inducing neck discomfort can be applied for taking preventive measures and improving workstation design. So, the main purpose of this study was the neck posture analysis in computer users and identifying the related risk factors. Methods:This descriptive-analytical study was performed in 2018 on 169 administrative staff in one of the governmental hospitals in Qom. A researcher-made questionnaire was used to investigate neck discomfort and related risk factors. To determine the angle of the neck, photographic analysis method was used. Finally, SPSS software version 22 and appropriate statistical tests including the logistic regression model, two independent t-test, and chi-square test in contingency tables were used to determine the relationship between individual parameters and workstation with neck angles and neck pain. Results:The results showed that two factors of the height (p= 0.023) and the gender (p= 0.012) had a direct statistically significant association with neck disorder statistically. In addition, the anthropometric dimensions, monitor height from desk level was positively correlated with neck discomfort but sitting elbow to eye height was negatively correlated with neck discomfort (p

Abstract Background: There is always an interaction between man and his environment that can be the cause of physical, physiological and psychological stress on people and also cause discomfort, annoyance, and have direct and indirect effects on their performance and productivity, health and safety. People in their workplace are exposed to many factors related to work activities and environmental factors, which can affect their health; So workplace disruptions such as noisy environments can cause safety problems, reduce employee morale and undesirable effects on performance, working memory, and attention; For these reasons, ergonomic designers must be capable of designing the physical environment because the design of the environment not only keep peoplechr('39')s performance high, but also provide a safe and healthy environment for improving employeeschr('39') health. Noise can also negatively affect communication between people. Banks are open plan offices and the financial services provided by bank staff that requires employeechr('39')s mental activity. Different sources of noise production can affect employees and negatively affect their comfortable, functional and communication aspects. Noise also effects on mental activities can cause employees to become tired early and increase their computational errors. In a bank environment where conversations between bank tellers and customers are necessary to conduct banking tasks, interfering with ambient noise, causing annoyance, human error, and ultimately failed to provide banking services. Because of high workload and the bankschr('39') competition to attract customers in order to provide better services, quiet workplace environments are essential for staff comfort and optimum performance; so right designing workplace can have a high impact on peoplechr('39')s comfort and productivity. Speech Interference Level is a simple way to predict or evaluate speech intelligibility where the conversation occurs directly in a noisy environment. At open plan offices, employee and customer communicate face-to-face and information exchange is done in that way. In recent years, many banks in our country have established their own workstations as sited customers and face-to-face with bank tellers, but so far no study has been conducted on the changed employeeschr('39') workstations and its effect on speech interference. A question now arises, is workstation redesign increase the Speech Interference Level and improve Intelligibility ratings for speech communications? Therefore, the purpose of this study was redesigned workstations and make environmental changes and its effect on SIL among bank tellers. Material and method: This study is a descriptive-analytic and Interventional study, this was carried out for one year in three branches of one of the governmental banks of Hamadan province (N= 12). Twelve workstations were redesigned and installed after measuring the sound and calculating Speech Interference Level, and calculating the distance between customer and employee. Bank tellers are those who have a direct relationship with customers and perform banking tasks. They had to sit long during the day and they spent all their time working on computers and they were getting things done and receiving customer financial requests. They used the workstations were constructed in the present study. The tools for data collection in this study were: 1) demographic and occupational questionnaire, 2) sound measuring and frequency analyzer CEL-450، 3) A questionnaire with a question “What noise sources in your workplace do you annoy?” to determine annoying sound sources and 4) ISO 9921-2003 standard to determine speech interference level of the noise at the listenerchr('39')s ear (LSIL), Speech level, Speech Interference Level (SIL) and Intelligibility ratings for speech communications. SIL is a simple way to predict or evaluate speech intelligibility, Speech intelligibility also increases with increasing SIL. speech intelligibility is divided into 5 rating (bad, poor, fair, good and excellent) based on SIL, also in sensitive situations where short messages are sent include important numbers, ability to understand at least "good" is recommended by increasing speech effort; the communication will be “fair” if the difference between LSIL and the speech level (LS, A, L) that both determined at the listener’s position is greater than 10. Measuring the sound within 1 meter of the speakerchr('39')s mouth, according to ISO 9921 (2003) for normal sound (60 dB) was considered. It was measured for 15 minutes at 10 a.m. to 13 p.m. every shift that they had the highest number of customers, and measuring was done twice for each workstation (total 24 times). To calculate LSIL, the sound pressure level was measured in four octave bands with the central frequencies 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz and 4000 Hz at the listener position and during the normal communication period in time-weighting “slow”. the sound pressure level was measured for 15 minutes and the average of these pressure levels was calculated. After collecting the preliminary data, bank teller workstations were redesigned and built. Some actions were taken to reduce speech interference and improve communication between bank tellers and customers; For example, insert a glass between customer and bank teller and create 12 vents (diameter =2 cm) at a customerchr('39')s mouth height to improve communication, changing the workstation so that the operator and customer interact face-to-face and insert chair for customers to sit in, reduce customer gathering in front of the workstations, reducing the distance between the customers and the bank tellers by creating an arc at the table, Enhancing employee privacy by placing the glass between employees in beside workstations, increasing the glass height between the bank teller and the customer to prevent customer standing communicate with the bank teller. The mean distance between bank teller and customer prior to redesigning the workstations was 123 cm which was reduced to 103 cm in redesign; the mean distance between two employees was 95 cm, which increased to 115 cm after the redesign. Environmental interventions also include the installation of perforated acoustic tiles made of plaster as a false ceiling, so that, by installing them the distance between the main and false ceilings was 25 cm and there was an empty space between them which absorbs more sound. The walls of the branches were also covered with wall plugs that made of PVC and MDF, and the floor was improved. Data were collected before and after the interventions and they were compared. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software, version 16. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) and analytical statistics. The Paired t-test was used to compare the mean results of the LSIL and SIL. Results: In the present study, all the bank tellers were male. Everyone was married, their mean age was 38.25 (5.62) and work experience was 15.25 (6.87) years. Each bank teller were doing 30-50 customerschr('39') finances task in one shift. All participants stated that their rest time was less than 30 minutes in a shift and they are working 7-8 hours in a sitting position; none of the participants had a history of hearing loss or other hearing problems. Results from annoying sources of noise showed that the most annoying sources of noise in all three branches were the noise of customers (42.85%) and the sound of money counting machine (33.3%); Printer noise was the lowest (4.76%). Before the interventions, mean speech interference level (LSIL) was 59.50 dB (4.07) that was then reduced to 54.98 (5.52) dB and this decrease was statistically significant (p

Objectives. The aim of the study is to develop a set of interconnected information blocks for the formation, subsequent processing and application of data in the preparation of reporting and functional documents.Method. The choice of regularly used templates as a basis for the development of information blocks. Based on the structure and forms of the selected templates, software modules for information block interfaces have been developed.Result. Based on the results of identifying and analyzing problematic issues in the activities of the operational duty shift for the automation and intellectualization of the activities of specialists, the idea of developing and using universal information blocks as part of a database management system for automated workplaces was proposed. Interfaces of information blocks are included in the composition of each workstation and provide for the processes of: entering, changing, searching and filtering data; Previewing, printing and saving documents. In the development of algorithms, original software solutions were applied: combining data prepared by several specialists, generating document details, transferring information between different workstations, monitoring the availability of documents, accessing the necessary reference information.Conclusion. The introduction of the developed information blocks: “Schedule of SLM duty”, “Requisites”, “Journal of Carriage of Duty”, “Control”, “Reference book” into the complex of automated workplaces of operational duty shift in the Crisis Management Center allows you to refuse as a result of automation from manual filling of text templates and, as a result, reduce labor intensity, increase resource and improve the quality of preparation of operational reporting documents in the event of accidents, emergencies, fires and functions national documents in the mode of daily activities in accordance with the regulatory, job and functional duties of specialists.

Introduction and purpose: The most prevalent accidents and injuries occur in industries. Risk assessment and risk management are the basis for planning to provide solutions and control hazards. Therefore, the present study aimed to identify and assess the workplace hazards using the failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA) approach in a carpet manufacturing company located in Mazandaran. Methods: The current study utilized FMEA approach to evaluate the potential risk factors. Some units of carpet manufacturing company including 8 different workstations were assessed with 60 employees. Furthermore, failure modes and effects, as well as the causes of the failure of each component, were evaluated in this study. Subsequently, the Risk Priority Number of each workstation was separately calculated and the crisis level of each risk was prioritized. Results: According to the results of the study, out of 55 risk factors identified in 8 different workstations at the factory, 18.2 %, 67.3%, and 14.5% of these risk factors were within acceptable, unacceptable, and emergency level, respectively. Moreover, the units, including painting, dipping, extrusion, and assembly obtained the highest risk frequency in terms of explosion and electric shock. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, workers are highly susceptible to occupational accidents and injuries due to the presence of high risks factors in the above-mentioned unit. Although FMEA approach is applicable to identify the potential failures in work-related accidents, it is recommended using Preliminary Risk Assessment Method in order to conduct a more exact and comprehensive assessment.

Automation liberates scientific staff from repetitive tasks, decreases the probability of human error and consequently enhances the reproducibility of lab experiments. However, the use of laboratory automation in academic laboratories is limited due to high acquisition costs and the inability to customize off-the-shelf hardware. To address these challenges, we present an Open Source Hardware concept, referred to as OpenWorkstation, to build an assembly line-inspired platform consisting of ready-to-use and customizable modules. In contrast to current standalone solutions, the OpenWorkstation concept enables the combination of single hardware modules – each with a specific set of functionalities – to a modular workstation to provide a fully automated setup. The base setup consists of a pipetting and transport module and is designed to execute basic protocol steps for in vitro research applications, including pipetting operations for liquids and viscous substances and transportation of cell culture vessels between the modules. We demonstrate the successful application of this concept within a case study by the development of a storage module to facilitate high-throughput studies and a photo-crosslinker module to initiate photo-induced polymerization of hydrogel solutions. We present a Systems Engineering framework for customized module development, guidance for the design and assembly of the presented modules, and operational instructions on the usage of the workstation. By combining capabilities from various open source instrumentations into a modular technology platform, the OpenWorkstation concept will facilitate efficient and reliable experimentation for in vitro research. Ultimately, this concept will allow academic groups to improve replicability and reproducibility in cell culture process operations towards more economical and innovative research in the future.

As a result of COVID-19, many office buildings around the world have downsized their employees, but the comfort parameters in the building had to be kept. The facilities operation rearranged the workstations to keep physical distance and placed plexiglass sheets on the desks for physical protection. A series of measurements have been carried out with workstation set-ups to examine the fresh air rate in the occupied zone. The effect of plexiglass sheets placed on the desks was also examined to see how it changes the airflow pattern in the occupied zone. As the sheets act as a barrier, the primary air does not reach the occupied zone, therefore, the fresh air rate is less. To modify the properties of the ceiling diffusers a new air-ventilation service element was developed. This attachment allows modifying the properties of the ceiling diffusers. Simulations were made at the relevant zones to validate the measurements. Based on design software, the fresh air ratio for a standard ceiling swirl diffuser is 2.46 v% (volume percentage). A numerical model was used to show the fresh air ratio with the system elements for the two different table arrangements, which were 18.3 v% and 21.4 v%, respectively.

The article deals with the psychological and pedagogical problems of training situational centers (TSC) as a learning environment for group decision-making. TSC have a significant role to play in the process of formation of a new type of managerial personnel, managers for the "digital economy" and "digital state. Emphasizes the importance of workplaces as a Central element for the functioning of TSCs; in this case, the workplace is treated as an element of the educational environment in relation to two related subject areas – social management and education. The script approach at the organization of educational activity in TSC is described; the script of an educational task contains, in particular, characteristics and the description of the principles of work of the corresponding workplaces, and also methods of work of participants of studies (students, teachers, experts, game technicians, producers). The importance of forming a visual information image of the management situation for the collective work of students is emphasized. We consider the models of classes in the TSC (lecture-discussion, case-study, role play), as well as psychological, didactic, technological and organizational factors taken into account in these models. The problem of "Brainstorming" is considered as an example of communicative decision-making technology in the TSC.

Introduction: A large part of the compensation payments is allocated to the musculoskeletal disorders of the injured employees. The economic losses imposed by these disorders affect not only the individuals, but also the organizations and communities. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of educational intervention on improving the working conditions of the computer-using employees working in Yazd University of Medical Sciences. Method: This semi-experimental study was conducted among the employees of Yazd University of Medical Sciences. In this regard, 100 computer users were randomly selected and the study was conducted in three stages of investigating the current situation, implementing the educational intervention, and re-investigating the situation. We collected the information one month before and one month after the educational course. For this purpose, we used the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) checklist 1910/0900 (31 questions).We analyzed the data using SPSS version 19 and run Chi-square and descriptive statistics to determine the frequency. The significance level was also considered at 0.05. Results: We found that the postures of the participants were unfavorable before the intervention and they were unconscious about it. However, after the intervention, we observed a significant change in their postures (P 0.05). In other words, we cannot change the inappropriately designed desk or workstation by the training intervention. Conclusion: Interventions based on the ergonomic training had a positive effect on the improvement of participants' posture at work. This improvement one month after the intervention can confirm the sustainable effectiveness of such programs. In addition, educational intervention did not have any effect on the workstations; the training program could not change the workstations that were undesirable in terms of ergonomics.

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Objectives: Our study aimed to investigate the association between comprehensive workstations and neck and upper-limb pain (NUP) among office workers. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 307 office workers (median age, 39 years; 88% men). Workstations (presence of armrest, armrest position, number of monitors used, mouse position, mouse usage, keyboard usage, and keyboard position) were investigated in terms of 17 items and judged as “adequate” or “inadequate.” NUP was assessed using a numerical rating scale. NUP locations included the neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist. In the statistical analysis, outcome variables were the presence of pain in each part, while explanatory variables were the number of inadequate workstations. Logistic regression analyses were conducted with adjustment for age, gender, working duration, and exercise habit. Results: The prevalence of neck pain was 47% (n = 143), shoulder pain was 50% (n = 153), elbow pain was 7.2% (n = 22), and wrist pain was 13% (n = 40). In the adjusted model, the number of inadequate workstations had significant positive associations with elbow pain (odds ratio [OR], 1.39; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06.1.81) and wrist pain (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.17.2.26). However, the number of inadequate workstations was not significantly associated with neck pain or shoulder pain. Conclusions: Workstation-related factors (presence of armrest, armrest position, mouse usage, and keyboard usage) were significantly associated with elbow and wrist pain. Our findings suggest that workstations can contribute to elbow and wrist pain in office workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rationale and Objectives: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has challenged the educational missions of academic radiology departments nationwide. We describe a novel cloud-based HIPAA compliant and accessible education platform which simulates a live radiology workstation for continued education of first year radiology (R1) residents, with an emphasis on call preparation and peer to peer resident learning.Materials and Methods: Three tools were used in our education model: Pacsbin (Orion Medical Technologies, Baltimore, MD, pacsbin.com), Zoom (Zoom Video Communications, San Jose, CA, zoom.us), and Google Classroom (Google, Mountain View, CA, classroom.google.com). A senior radiology resident (R2-R4) (n = 7) driven workflow was established to provide scrollable Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) based case collections to the R1 residents (n = 9) via Pacsbin. A centralized classroom was created using Google Classroom for assignments, reports, and discussion where attending radiologists could review content for accuracy. Daily case collections over an 8-week period from March to May were reviewed via Zoom video conference readout in small groups consisting of a R2-R4 teacher and R1 residents. Surveys were administered to R1 residents, R2-4 residents, and attending radiologist participants.Results: Hundred percent of R1 residents felt this model improved their confidence and knowledge to take independent call. Seventy-eight percent of the R1 residents (n = 7/9) demonstrated strong interest in continuing the project after pandemic related restrictions are lifted. Based on a Likert "helpfulness" scale of 1-5 with 5 being most helpful, the project earned an overall average rating of 4.9. Two R2-R4 teachers demonstrated increased interest in pursuing academic radiology.Conclusion: In response to unique pandemic circumstances, our institution implemented a novel cloud-based distance learning solution to simulate the radiology workstation. This platform helped continue the program's educational mission, offered first year residents increased call preparation, and promoted peer to peer learning. This approach to case-based learning could be used at other institutions to educate residents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Due to multiple reasons like prolonged sitting and postural demands, software engineers are prone to develop musculoskeletal problems, which can be easily alleviated by practicing proper Ergonomic posture in their workstation. The main objective of the study was to assess the knowledge of Ergonomics Principles and Workplace Practice among the software engineers working in a private firm. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 403 software engineers working in a private firm, Chennai. Results: Among the 403 study participants, 85.6% had musculoskeletal problem in any area of focus. Only 9% had adequate ergonomic knowledge and only fewer among them practice it adequately. Conclusion: The study revealed higher prevalence of musculoskeletal problem, lower prevalence of knowledge about Ergonomic principles and much lower prevalence of appropriate practice of Ergonomic principles. This can be alleviated by a simple primary care like ergonomic education and practising. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background To date, the majority of interventions have implemented classroom-based physical activity (PA) at the elementary level; however, there is both the potential and need to explore student outcomes at high-school level as well, given that very few studies have incorporated classroom-based PA interventions for adolescents. One exception has been the use of bicycle workstations within secondary classrooms. Using bicycle workstations in lieu of traditional chairs in a high school setting shows promise for enhancing adolescents’ physical activity during the school day. Participants and procedure The present study explored the effects of integrating bicycle workstations into a secondary classroom setting for four months in a sample of 115 adolescents using an A-B-A-B withdrawal design. The study took place in one Advanced Placement English classroom across five groups of students. Physical activity outcomes included average heart rate, and caloric expenditure. Behavioural outcomes included percentage of on-task/off-task behaviour and number of teacher prompts in redirecting off-task behaviour. Feasibility and acceptability data of using the bicycle workstations were also collected. Results Findings showed significant improvements in physical activity as measured by heart rate and caloric expenditure, although heart rate percentage remained in the low intensity range when students were on the bicycle workstations. No effects were found on students’ on-task behaviour when using the bicycle workstations. Overall, students found the bikes acceptable to use but noted disadvantages of them as well. Conclusions Using bicycle workstations in high-school settings appears promising for enhancing low-intensity physical activity among adolescents. The limitations of the present study and implications for physical activity interventions in secondary schools are discussed.

Purpose: This paper outlines an approach to develop practical guidelines to support the design of submarine control console workstations.Method: Guideline development was undertaken for 13 physical design criteria, provided to the research team. Data was gathered from four sources: a systematic literature review, relevant standards, population specific anthropometric data, and user focus groups. The systematic review included risk of bias, quality assessment and evidence synthesis.Results& Conclusion: The systematic review retrieved 43 relevant articles in relation to seven of the 13 design criteria. Very few high-quality studies were identified. The combined evidence available from each of the four data sources was collated and used to provide a set of guidelines for each of the 13 criteria, highlighting the importance of the use of multiple data sources. This approach has applicability beyond this study where the need exists to collate evidence sources beyond the scientific literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of a computer-based intervention designed to increase sit-stand desk usage and help reverse workplace physical inactivity.Background: Sit-stand desks have been successful in reducing workplace sedentary behavior, but the challenge remains for an effective method to increase the usage in order to experience the health and productivity benefits.Method: Data collection (1-year field study with 194 workers) used a novel method of computer software that continuously recorded objective electric sit-stand desk usage, while taking into account the time a worker spends away from their desk (breaks, meetings). During the baseline period, all workers' desk usage was recorded by the software, and the intervention period consisted of software reminders and real-time feedback to all workers to change desk positions. Pooled means were calculated to determine desk usage patterns, and effect sizes and pairwise mean differences were analyzed to test for intervention significance.Results: The intervention doubled desk usage by increasing ~1 change to ~2 changes per work day. There was a 76% reduction in workers who never used the sit-stand function of the desk. Medium to large effect sizes from the intervention were observed in all three primary outcome measures (desk in sitting/standing position and desk position changes per work day).Conclusion: These findings demonstrate an effective intervention that increased postural transitioning and interrupted prolonged inactivity while remaining at the workstation.Application: The methods and results in this research study show that we can quantify an increase in desk usage and collect aggregate data continuously. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]