posted on 2008-01-17, 16:18authored byCharlotte L. Brace, Alastair Gale, Matthew G. Wallis
Screening for breast cancer involves examination of mammograms. Conventional filmscreen
mammography is being surpassed with the implementation of digital soft copy film
reporting. However, little thought has been given to the human factors associated with
the allied period of system changeover. This study considered the human factors
implications with respect to comfort, performance and efficiency of work tasks. The
purpose of this project was to examine the human factors issues surrounding the
implementation of the new technology and prepare recommendations relevant to
practitioners for improved implementation practice. A combination of techniques (expert
walkthroughs, verbal protocol analysis, interviews, work station assessments) were
applied to examine existing and revised working practices during mammography film
reading. Eight Radiologists and Radiographer Advanced Practitioners within two Breast
Screening Units participated to enable a thorough understanding to be gained of
strategies adopted when using the different systems and the combination of systems. A
variety of changes in working practices were recognised to have occurred with the new
system (digital) implementation. There was an impact upon technique, comfort,
performance and efficiency during digital soft copy reporting when viewing analogue
priors. Subsequent recommendations for workstation design, working practices and
training were produced to assist in improved implementation of digital processes in
mammography. The project demonstrated that implementation of new technology needs
to be thoroughly assessed to alleviate any potentially problematic human factors issues.
History
School
Science
Department
Computer Science
Citation
BRACE, C.L., GALE, A.G. and WALLIS, M.G., 2006. The human factors surrounding system change in breast cancer screening : a case study. IN: Proceedings of the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society of Australia 42nd Annual Conference, University of Technology, UTS, Sydney, 20-22 November