Overcoming COVID-19 pandemic: emerging challenges of human factors and the role of cognitive ergonomics

Abstract

The present study, an expert review, aimed to discuss the emerging challenges of overcoming COVID-19 from the perspective of human factors and the importance of cognitive ergonomics in helping to cope with the epidemic. Identifying these challenges and the use of cognitive ergonomics to optimize human well-being and system performance can be effective in managing COVID-19. Generally, two main preventive approaches such as social distancing and patient care or treatment approaches are being utilized in response to COVID-19. In this paper, human factors challenges that could emerge from covid-19 preventive approaches were discussed. Social distancing forces presence and increases automated systems that lead to increases in cognitive needs, mental workload, stress, etc. Challenges of treatment and health care include the increased workload of healthcare personnel, stress, changing work systems and task allocation that led to fatigue and stress, threats to patient safety, and disruption of interpersonal interactions from a cognitive ergonomic perspective. It is concluded that the challenges of coping with COVID-19 were numerous and important from the perspective of human factors and the role of cognitive ergonomics is important in controlling the disease; hence, it should be taken into consideration.

Keywords:

• Cognitive ergonomics
• COVID-19
• challenge
• human factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

The work is supported by the Shiraz University of Medical Sciences under grant Numbers: 22271.

Notes on contributors

Reza Kazemi

Reza Kazemi is assistant professor of occupational health at Department of Ergonomics, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences of Iran. His research includes cognitive ergonomics and human performance in complex systems.

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is professor of psychology. He holds a PhD from University College London. His research covers the areas of Occupational and Health Psychology with a major emphasis on well-being.