title: Ergonomic decision-making: a conceptual framework for experienced practitioners from backgrounds in industrial engineering and physical therapy.
abstract: Ergonomists play an important role in preventing and controlling work-related injuries and illnesses, yet little is known about the decision-making processes that lead to their recommendations. This study (1) generated a data-grounded conceptual framework, based on schema theory, for ergonomic decision-making by experienced practitioners in the USA and (2) assessed the adequacy of that framework for describing the decision-making of ergonomics practitioners from backgrounds in industrial engineering (IE) and physical therapy (PT). A combination of qualitative and quantitative analyses, within and across 54 decision-making situations derived from in-depth interviews with 21 practitioners, indicated that a single framework adequately describes the decision-making of experienced practitioners from these backgrounds. Results indicate that demands of the practitioner environment and practitioner factors such as personality more strongly influence the decision-making of experienced ergonomics practitioners than does practitioner background in IE or PT.
authors.affiliation: Synergo, P.O. Box 415, Columbia, SC 29202, USA. karen@bewellworkbetter.com
authors.forename: Karen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Piegorsch
authors.forename: Ken W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Watkins
authors.forename: Walter W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Piegorsch
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reininger
authors.forename: Sara J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Corwin
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Valois
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003657:Decision Making; D004738:Engineering; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D026761:Physical Therapy Specialty; D014481:United States