Applied Ergonomics最新文献

{"title":"VR- or lecture-based training? The role of culture in safety training outcomes","authors":"Estefany Rey-Becerra ,&nbsp;Lope H. Barrero ,&nbsp;Rolf Ellegast ,&nbsp;Annette Kluge","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104626","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104626","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Virtual reality (VR) training provides immersive, risk-free experiences that leverage multisensory integration to improve memory retention, presence and embodiment to strengthen engagement and attention, and situational learning to promote transfer of training to real-world contexts. Adding gamification through serious games (SG) further enhances engagement and active learning. This study validates a VR-SG safety training previously evaluated in Colombia, now applied to 74 professional roofers in Germany comparing ViStra (VR-SG) with LeStra (lecture-based with problem-based learning). Using Kirkpatrick's model, we assessed reaction, cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, self-reported behavior, and safety climate through validated questionnaires. Both programs improved cognitive and attitudinal outcomes, with no significant differences. No effects were found for behavior or safety climate. Thus, ViStra matched LeStra's effectiveness. Post hoc comparison with Colombian data suggests cultural factors influence some outcomes, highlighting the importance of adapting training strategies to cultural contexts for future safety training strategies in diverse work environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104626"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144922619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fairness in machine learning-based hand load estimation: A case study on load carriage tasks","authors":"Arafat Rahman ,&nbsp;Sol Lim ,&nbsp;Seokhyun Chung","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104642","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104642","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Predicting external hand load from sensor data is essential for ergonomic exposure assessments, as obtaining this information typically requires direct observation or supplementary data. While machine learning can estimate hand load from posture or force data, we found systematic bias tied to biological sex, with predictive disparities worsening in imbalanced training datasets. To address this, we developed a fair predictive model using a Variational Autoencoder with feature disentanglement, which separates sex-agnostic from sex-specific motion features. This enables predictions based only on sex-agnostic patterns. Our proposed algorithm outperformed conventional machine learning models, including <span><math><mi>k</mi></math></span>-Nearest Neighbors, Support Vector Machine, and Random Forest, achieving a mean absolute error of 3.42 and improving fairness metrics like statistical parity and positive and negative residual differences, even when trained on imbalanced sex datasets. These results underscore the importance of fairness-aware algorithms in avoiding health and safety disadvantages for specific worker groups in the workplace.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104642"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145158360","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of different implementation approaches on the acceptability of a passive exoskeleton for workplace health promotion: An intervention study using the MATE-XT®","authors":"Manuel Fleps ,&nbsp;Max Hörandel ,&nbsp;Melina Fischer ,&nbsp;Janina Krell-Roesch ,&nbsp;Pascal Senn ,&nbsp;Klaus Boes ,&nbsp;Claudia Hildebrand","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104625","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104625","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The aim of this intervention study was to examine the effects of two different implementation approaches of a passive, upper-limb exoskeleton (MATE-XT®) on the acceptability of the exoskeleton by participants and participants’ health in a workplace health promotion setting.</div><div>Participants were assigned to one of two groups and underwent either an exoskeleton application training (AT, N = 9) or standardized briefing (SB, N = 9) over a period of 4 weeks. Outcomes of interest, i.e., acceptability of the exoskeleton and participants’ health, were assessed using the Technology Usage Inventory and the Short-Form 12 Health Survey before, immediately after, and approximately one year after the 4-week implementation period. Wearing time was tracked over the 4-week implementation period.</div><div>AT participants reported significantly higher usefulness and usability, greater curiosity, reduced skepticism, and had a higher wearing time in the last two weeks of the implementation. In addition, they perceived the exoskeleton as more useful, and reported higher physical health outcomes than SB participants. At one-year-follow-up, AT participants continued to perceive the exoskeleton as more valuable.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104625"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145088221","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the usability and perceived benefits and barriers of portable lift assist devices among paramedic workers","authors":"Hailey M. Nestor ,&nbsp;Amanda M. Calford ,&nbsp;Daphne C. Ho ,&nbsp;Richard Ferron ,&nbsp;Taylor Cleworth ,&nbsp;Andrew C. Laing ,&nbsp;Steven L. Fischer","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104651","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104651","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Patient lifting can expose health care workers to musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) risk factors. Portable lift assist devices may reduce exposure during lifting, however limited evidence on user feedback and efficacy is available to inform purchase decisions. Therefore, we tested the efficacy of two portable lift assist devices relative to a manual lift when lifting an individual from the floor. Participants lifted an actor from the floor using a manual technique and by using two lift assist devices, either an inflatable bladder or a mechanical device. Ratings of perceived exertion demonstrated that the lift assist devices decreased or maintained perceived exertion relative to the manual lift. Semi-structured interviews provided context where perceived benefits of the devices (i.e., decreased exertion and MSD risk) outweighed barriers (i.e., added time to call). The results of this study can inform stakeholders making decisions about lift assist devices purchases.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104651"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145208568","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The spread of trust and distrust in human-AI teams","authors":"Shiwen Zhou ,&nbsp;Wen Duan ,&nbsp;Xiaoyun Yin ,&nbsp;Matthew Scalia ,&nbsp;Ray Hao ,&nbsp;Nan Weng ,&nbsp;Gregory Funke ,&nbsp;Michael Tolston ,&nbsp;Guo Freeman ,&nbsp;Beau Schelble ,&nbsp;Jamie Gorman ,&nbsp;Nathan McNeese","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104648","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104648","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104648"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145304650","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sex differences in young adults on comfort and foot skin temperature using different running shoes lacing","authors":"Jose Luis Sánchez-Jiménez ,&nbsp;Esther Sánchez-Ribes ,&nbsp;Jose Ignacio Priego-Quesada ,&nbsp;Alberto Encarnación-Martínez ,&nbsp;Roberto Sanchís-Sanchís ,&nbsp;Pedro Pérez-Soriano","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104660","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104660","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study examined the impact of sex and lacing pattern on foot skin temperature (Tsk) and comfort during running. Twenty-four recreational runners participated in two treadmill trials involving cross-lacing and heel-lock lacing. Tsk and comfort were measured before and after 20 min of running at 10 km/h. Results revealed higher post-exercise Tsk with cross-lacing compared to heel-lock lacing (p = 0.003). Females had lower pre-exercise Tsk but higher post-exercise Tsk than males (p &lt; 0.001). Heel-lock lacing was perceived as more comfortable (p &lt; 0.05), and females reported higher heart rates and perceived exertion (p &lt; 0.001). The mechanical work of running is crucial for the impact of lacing patterns on Tsk. Increased Tsk with cross-lacing negatively influences comfort, suggesting that lacing patterns can affect foot thermoregulation and subjective experience during running.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104660"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145267070","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Acceptance of mobile health applications by the general public: the roles of technology acceptance model constructs, health-app-specific factors, and socio-demographic moderators","authors":"Zhenzhen Xie ,&nbsp;Calvin Or ,&nbsp;Xu-Chun Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104655","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104655","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Despite the transformative potential of health applications (apps) to improve the general public's health and healthcare knowledge, their acceptance remains a barrier to success. Although research on health app acceptance has expanded, most studies have focused on classical factors, such as those in the technology acceptance model (TAM), giving less attention to health-app-specific factors, such as technological characteristics and operational details.</div></div><div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>To expand our knowledge of the factors influencing health app acceptance, particularly among the general public, this study aimed to (i) develop and test a model of acceptance (measured by intention to use) that incorporates TAM constructs and health-app-specific factors and (ii) examine the moderating effects of selected socio-demographic characteristics on intention to use.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We formulated an acceptance model by expanding the TAM to include nine additional constructs and tested it using a cross-sectional survey of 600 adults from the general public, stratified by age, gender, and district of residence. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was applied to test the structural model. Multigroup analyses examined whether age, gender, education level, and household income moderated the relationships between model factors and acceptance.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The model accounted for 55 % of the variance in acceptance, which was positively influenced by perceived usefulness, mHealth literacy, smartphone screen size, and healthcare providers’ attitudes and negatively affected by smartphone memory consumption. Perceived ease of use, favorable features, and quality of information explained 58 % of the variance in perceived usefulness. Regarding moderation, older individuals showed less concern about perceived usefulness, whereas men and individuals with higher education levels exhibited less concern about smartphone screen size.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our acceptance model showed strong empirical fit and the potential to support health app development and deployment. To achieve acceptance among the general public, app developers should enhance app usability, ensure high-quality information, include desirable app features, and meet user needs. Usability testing and stakeholder-centered design approaches are essential to achieve these goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104655"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145245593","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Anisotropy in motion sickness susceptibility during longitudinal and lateral motion while seated on a car seat","authors":"Eito Sato ,&nbsp;Kazuki Kajita ,&nbsp;Kensuke Ito ,&nbsp;Takahiro Wada","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104664","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104664","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Motion sickness is critical in automated vehicle design, particularly as horizontal accelerations become more variable and pronounced. However, even within horizontal translation, whether sickness sensitivity differs between longitudinal and lateral directions remains unclear. To investigate this, we conducted a within-subjects experiment with 21 participants exposed to repeated sinusoidal accelerations while seated in a car seat without visual cues, restrained by seat belt and neck brace. Each participant experienced one combination of two acceleration levels and multiple frequencies (0.15, 0.20, 0.25, or 0.40 Hz for 3.0 m/s²; 0.15, 0.25, or 0.40 for 0.65 m/s²). Symptoms were assessed using the Motion Illness Symptoms Classification at 1-min intervals. Results revealed significantly greater symptom progression in longitudinal motion (adjusted-mean: 3.0, max: 4.75) than lateral motion (adjusted-mean: 1.67, max: 2.65), despite smaller head angular velocities. These findings provide empirical evidence for direction-specific sickness sensitivity and underscore the need to consider motion direction in vehicle design.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104664"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145294454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Nonlinear analysis reveals duration and gradient-dependent disruption of load carriage gait variability during an outdoor 6.72 km time trial in military personnel","authors":"Evan D. Feigel ,&nbsp;Ayden McCarthy ,&nbsp;Joel T. Fuller ,&nbsp;Lily Rosenblum ,&nbsp;Mita Lovalekar ,&nbsp;Tommi Ojanen ,&nbsp;Kai Pihlainen ,&nbsp;Brian J. Martin ,&nbsp;Kristen J. Koltun ,&nbsp;Tim L.A. Doyle ,&nbsp;Bradley C. Nindl","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104639","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104639","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This investigation assessed the effect of gradient and duration on the gait variability exponent, DFA-α, in military personnel affixed with dual inertial measurement units performing a load carriage time-trial. Gait data (N = 14) were partitioned into 256 stride time segments by gradient (uphill, downhill) using a gait event algorithm. Detrended fluctuation analysis calculated DFA-α per segment, which was averaged across one-third durations (phases 1–3) per gradient. Two-way repeated measures ANOVA examined effects of gradient, duration, and interaction on DFA-α, with Bonferroni-adjusted post-hoc comparisons. There was a significant main effect of duration (phase 1: 0.593 ± 0.021; phase 2: 0.563 ± 0.031; phase 3: 0.493 ± 0.021; F = 3.833, p = 0.035, η_p² = 0.228), but not gradient (uphill: 0.486 ± 0.031; downhill: 0.614 ± 0.035; F = 4.252, p = 0.060, η_p² = 0.246), or interaction (F = 0.019, p = 0.981, η_p² = 0.001). Pairwise comparisons revealed significantly lower DFA-α during phase 3 than phase 1 (p = 0.016). Elapsed duration and uphill gradient, despite a large, but non-significant effect, may represent factors altering gait variability for injury risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104639"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145027333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating mental workload: A taxonomic approach to evaluation tools based on ISO 10075","authors":"Mirco Bartolomei ,&nbsp;Riccardo Gervasi ,&nbsp;Carlotta Acconito ,&nbsp;Laura Angioletti ,&nbsp;Davide Cannizzaro ,&nbsp;Michela Balconi ,&nbsp;Luca Mastrogiacomo ,&nbsp;Fiorenzo Franceschini","doi":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104659","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104659","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Recent technological transitions present in the manufacturing sector are transforming the way operators work, greatly impacting their mental workload and presenting new challenges for the cognitive ergonomics field. In an effort to design and implement human-centered management strategies, it is increasingly necessary to effectively explore and evaluate the various aspects related to mental workload. Despite the maturity of the field, in the existing literature a consensus on defining mental workload remains elusive. To bridge this gap, this paper introduces a comprehensive and holistic definition, drawing inspiration from the ISO 10075 standard. This novel taxonomic framework distinguishes various constructs related to mental workload, clarifying their causes and the consequences they induce. Additionally, an extensive literature analysis was conducted to develop a taxonomy of mental workload assessment tools, outlining their operational principles along with their strengths and weaknesses. This taxonomy can be used as a pragmatic guide for selecting appropriate tools based on specific contexts. Moreover, the existing literature was extensively investigated to ascertain the nature of the correlation—whether positive or negative—between the metrics of these tools and the range of the effects of mental workload fluctuations. This methodological approach addresses the common issue of misinterpreting results from mental workload measurements.</div><div>In essence, the research seeks to enrich the understanding of mental workload concepts and offers a critical evaluation of its measurement tools. The findings are intended to assist practitioners in the informed selection of measurement tools and to refine data interpretation, thereby facilitating better management of mental workload in manufacturing environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":55502,"journal":{"name":"Applied Ergonomics","volume":"130 ","pages":"Article 104659"},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145259988","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}