Improving Work Flow Through Cognitive Ergonomics. An Intervention Study

NCT03573674 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 117155
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 927
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The main aim of the SujuKE study is to test the effectiveness of workplace cognitive ergonomics development program designed to decrease cognitively disrupting work conditions and work-related cognitive stress, and to improve work flow. The cognitive ergonomics workplace intervention includes cognitive ergonomics workshop, work experiments, and intervention task questionnaires. Its effect on changes in subjective measures of work conditions, work flow, stress, and work productivity will be studied. The hypothesis is that cognitive ergonomics intervention decreases the level of cognitive strain related to work conditions, and this change is associated with higher level in work flow, well-being, and productivity at work.

Conditions

Ergonomics

Keywords

Working conditions,; cognitive load; disruptions; interruptions; information overload; Mental contrasting with implementation intentions MCII; Cognitive ergonomics

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Change in cognitive strain prevalence

  Cognitive strain prevalence measures prevalence of disruptions, interruptions, and information overload. There are two items on disruptions, three items on interruptions, and seven items on information overload including memory load, multitasking, and problems with instructions (Brain@Work survey by FIOH). Response scale is from 1 to 5, higher number indicating higher prevalence (Scale: More rarely; Monthly; Weekly; Daily, or almost daily; Many times a day) Total score is a factor score including all 12 items.

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

Secondary Outcomes (8)

• Change in subjective Cognitive load

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

• Change in Recovery

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

• Change in stress

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

• Change in Burnout index

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

• Change in General health

  1: Baseline measurements: 10-16 weeks before the intervention phase. 2: End-of-treatment measurements: 18-28 weeks after the baseline measurements. 3: Follow-up 4m: 16 weeks after the end-of-treatment. 4: Follow-up 10m: 40 weeks after end-of-treatment

Study Arms (3)

Cognitive ergonomics Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Behavioral: CE - Cognitive Ergonomics (KERGO)

Stress management Intervention

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

Behavioral: RS - Recovery Support (KUORMA)

Passive control

NO INTERVENTION

"Passive Control" groups receive no intervention at all.

Interventions

CE - Cognitive Ergonomics (KERGO) BEHAVIORAL

CE "Cognitive ergonomics Intervention" deals with themes such as disruptions, interruptions, information overload. A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Cognitive ergonomics Intervention

RS - Recovery Support (KUORMA) BEHAVIORAL

RS "Recovery Support / Stress Management Intervention" deals with themes such as workload management, recovery, work-family balance. A cognitive behaviour change method was applied in the intervention tasks. Both the tasks of discussing and developing new practices within the groups of individuals and the tasks for individuals were constructed to utilize mental contrasting with implementation intentions (MCII) method

Stress management Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• The participating organization offers several comparable teams (regarding type of tasks and demands) for study
• The participating units (in organizations) include knowledge workers, such as office workers and experts
• Whose
• work tasks are cognitively rather than physically demanding
• work requires learning and updating knowledge and skills
• information and communication technology is the main tool at work.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Finnish Institute of Occupational Health: lead
• Finnish Work Environment Fund: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

Helsinki, Etelä-Suomi, 00250, Finland

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Kalakoski V, Selinheimo S, Valtonen T, Turunen J, Kapykangas S, Ylisassi H, Toivio P, Jarnefelt H, Hannonen H, Paajanen T. Effects of a cognitive ergonomics workplace intervention (CogErg) on cognitive strain and well-being: a cluster-randomized controlled trial. A study protocol. BMC Psychol. 2020 Jan 2;8(1):1. doi: 10.1186/s40359-019-0349-1.

  PMID: 31898551 DERIVED

Study Officials

• Virpi SS Kalakoski, Dr

  Finnish Institute of Occupational Health

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: Cluster randomization with stratification allocated groups selected by participating organizations to treatment and control groups. Primary stratification was by the organization. Within-organization stratification took into account the size, the type of work tasks and the response rate in the first survey of cluster. Participating organizations entered all together to 36 clusters, each with individuals for the intervention and active control groups (N=638 individuals). The intervention (and active control) receive different types of workshops, individual tasks and team tasks. Additional information is available from non-randomized passive control group (N=289 individuals). Participating organizations were recruited by informing about the study. Participating units included knowledge workers, whose work tasks are cognitively rather than physically demanding.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 24, 2018
• First Posted: June 29, 2018
• Study Start: November 1, 2017
• Primary Completion: October 31, 2019
• Study Completion: October 31, 2019
• Last Updated: April 6, 2020

Record last verified: 2020-04

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

FI (1)