title: Reducing work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) through design: Views of ergonomics and design practitioners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) affect the well-being of workers. Unfortunately, user requirements for design to reduce workplace risk factors for MSDs are not always effectively communicated to designers creating a mismatch between the user requirements and what is ultimately produced.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the views of practitioners of design and ergonomics regarding tools for participatory design and features they would like to see in such tools.
  
  
  METHODS
  An online questionnaire survey was conducted with a cohort of practitioners of ergonomics and design (n = 32). In-depth interviews were then conducted with a subset of these practitioners (n = 8). To facilitate discussion, a prototype integrated design tool was developed and demonstrated to practitioners using a verbalized walkthrough approach.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the results of the questionnaire survey, the majority (70%) believed an integrated approach to participatory design would help reduce work-related MSDs and suggested ways to achieve this, for example, through sharing design information. The interviews showed the majority (n = 7) valued being provided with guidance on design activities and ways to manage and present information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is believed that an integrated approach to design in order to help reduce work-related MSDs is highly important and a provision to evaluate design solutions would be desirable for practitioners of design and ergonomics.
authors.affiliation: Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.|Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Moratuwa, Katubedda, Sri Lanka.
authors.forename: Himan K G
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Punchihewa
authors.affiliation: Loughborough Design School, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, UK.
authors.forename: Diane E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Gyi
mesh_terms: D003142:Communication; D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017132:Workplace
keywords: Design process; design methods; participatory design