Human Performance Optimization Metrics: Consensus Findings, Gaps, and Recommendations for Future Research.
Human performance optimization (HPO) is defined as "the process of applying knowledge, skills and emerging technologies to improve and preserve the capabilities of military members, and organizations to execute essential tasks." The lack of consensus for operationally relevant and standardized metrics that meet joint military requirements has been identified as the single most important gap for research and application of HPO. In 2013, the Consortium for Health and Military Performance hosted a meeting to develop a toolkit of standardized HPO metrics for use in military and civilian research, and potentially for field applications by commanders, units, and organizations. Performance was considered from a holistic perspective as being influenced by various behaviors and barriers. To accomplish the goal of developing a standardized toolkit, key metrics were identified and evaluated across a spectrum of domains that contribute to HPO: physical performance, nutritional status, psychological status, cognitive performance, environmental challenges, sleep, and pain. These domains were chosen based on relevant data with regard to performance enhancers and degraders. The specific objectives at this meeting were to (a) identify and evaluate current metrics for assessing human performance within selected domains; (b) prioritize metrics within each domain to establish a human performance assessment toolkit; and (c) identify scientific gaps and the needed research to more effectively assess human performance across domains. This article provides of a summary of 150 total HPO metrics across multiple domains that can be used as a starting point-the beginning of an HPO toolkit: physical fitness (29 metrics), nutrition (24 metrics), psychological status (36 metrics), cognitive performance (35 metrics), environment (12 metrics), sleep (9 metrics), and pain (5 metrics). These metrics can be particularly valuable as the military emphasizes a renewed interest in Human Dimension efforts, and leverages science, resources, programs, and policies to optimize the performance capacities of all Service members.
1Neuromuscular Research Laboratory/Warrior Human Performance Research Center, Department of Sports Medicine and Nutrition, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; 2U.S. Army Public Health Center (Provisional), Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; 3Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, Consortium for Health and Military Performance, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland; 4Human Dimension Division, HQ Army Training and Doctrine Command, Fort Eustis, Virginia; 5Thermal and Mountain Medicine and Nutrition Divisions, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Natick, Massachusetts; 6Behavioral Biology Branch, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland; and 7Division of Anesthesiology, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.
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D006801:Humans; D003071:Cognition; D032921:Consensus; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D008603:Mental Health; D008889:Military Personnel; D009752:Nutritional Status; D010146:Pain; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012890:Sleep; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis