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News
4.15.08
Research on training for AED use
A recently published article (Human Factors, 2008 PDF)
co-authored with
Blake Mitchell and Eric Muth focused on training for automatic external
defibrillators (AEDs). Here is the abstract.
Objective: This study examined the
effect of three types
of brief training on the use of automatic external defibrillators
(AEDs) designed for in-home use by 43 lay users. Method:
During training, the exposure training group
read an article about AEDs that provided no information on how to
operate them; the low training group inspected the AED and read the
operating instructions in the paper-based manual, but was not allowed
to use the device; and the high training group watched a training video
and performed a mock resuscitation using the AED, but no manikin. All
participants returned two weeks later and performed a surprise
simulated AED resuscitation on a manikin. Results: Most
participants in
each training group met criteria of minimally acceptable performance
during the simulated manikin resuscitation, as measured by time to
first shock, pad placement accuracy and safety check performance. Compared to exposure training,
the low and high training had a beneficial effect on time to first
shock and errors.
2.5.08
Knowledge guides internet health searching
In "An exploratory study of the effect of domain knowledge on internet search behavior: The case of diabetes"
(Gugerty, L., Billman, D., Elliott, A. & Pirolli, P. (2007). Proceedings the Human Factors & Ergonomics Society Conference. PDF)
we investigated how domain knowledge, about diabetes, influences the process and outcome of answering complex questions using the internet. The internet has become an important source of knowledge for people seeking health information about diseases. People with chronic diseases often need a great deal of information for self-management and have emerging needs for new information. Participants in our exploratory study were 8 people with diabetes and 2 without. An initial interview identified individuals with high versus low knowledge about diabetes. We then traced the activity of individuals answering questions about diabetes. Questions were designed to be difficult, require reasoning, and lack a single, integrated source with a packaged answer. Here we report on case analyses of one high and one low knowledge individual. Domain knowledge influenced activity in multiple respects, including initial orienting to the task and supplying facts needed in inference chains.
1.3.08
New ideas re situation awareness
In a recent in-press chapter (PDF), I
focused on the component
processes, both perceptual and cognitive, that make up the ability to
maintain situation awareness (SA) during the real-time task of driving.
The chapter also surveys methods of measuring SA, especially using
driving simulators. What makes this chapter a bit different from other
overviews of SA is: 1) the inclusion of processes not usually
considered to be part of this construct, such as ambient vision and
multitasking; and 2) the description of theoretical models for many of
the component processes of SA (e.g., Wickens SEEV model). The chapter
suggests that maintaining SA involves processes of focal vision
(including attention allocation within tasks, event comprehension, and
task management across concurrent tasks) as well as ambient vision
processes (including attention capture by sudden peripheral events).
Situation awareness is a complex process that requires assessment by a
variety of online and offline measures. Research using these measures
shows that most of the above components of SA can be trained, improve
with driving experience, and correlate positively with safe driving.
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