title: Psychosocial factors, workload, and human error in a simulated pharmacy dispensing task.
abstract: Participants filled 42 orders on a task designed to simulate components of filling prescriptions. Task factors included objective workload of 70- versus 80-min. to complete the task and perceptions of workload dimensions using the NASA Task Load Index. The proportion and pattern of data-entry, counting, and product-selection errors were compatible with those found in pharmacy field-sites. Significant other relationship stress, field-dependence, and an 80-min. workpace predicted data-entry errors. Mistakes in product selection were associated with low GPA, high social stress, the NASA Task Load Index dimension of less concern with performing well, and a 70-min. workpace. Relationship of data to corresponding information in the pharmacy literature and to assumptions of a cognitive-systems performance model was discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, OH 45221, USA. Tony.Grasha@UC.Edu
authors.forename: A F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Grasha
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schell
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D011307:Drug Prescriptions; D005221:Fatigue / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010593:Pharmaceutical Services / Q000592:standards*; D011897:Random Allocation; D014796:Visual Perception / Q000502:physiology; D016526:Workload