Human-system integration in emergency room environments

Date
2023-11
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research develops the digital component of an emergency centre human cyber-physical system (EC-HCPS) to facilitate information management. The patient treatment pathway through a hospital emergency centre is analysed to improve human-system integration (HSI). The Representation-Communication Interfacing (RCI) framework is used throughout the system design and evaluation process to achieve HSI. The Activity-Resource-Type-Instance (ARTI) architecture is used to develop the system architecture which consists of interacting activity and resource holons. The EC-HCPS is implemented using the Biography-Attributes-Schedule-Execution (BASE) software platform. The ARTI architecture design was mapped to the BASE software platform using the holonic system design process and user interfaces were developed using the web-based server, Svelte Kit. The functional and non-functional system requirements and the degree to which HSI was improved were tested by conducting an evaluation experiment at the Constantiaberg Mediclinic Emergency Centre. Ethics clearance was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee for Social, Behavioural and Education research at Stellenbosch University in 2022 to conduct the case study. The evaluation methods included a system comparison experiment, a user survey and a controlled simulation. The results show that the EC-HCPS satisfies the functional requirements by performing multimodal data acquisition, recording, storing and analysing data, as well as enabling information sharing. Several non-functional requirements were tested and satisfied, such as efficiency; however, some software characteristics do require further work. The evaluation of the EC-HCPS shows that the system improves HSI by adding maturity to each dimension of the RCI framework. The representation of various resources in a hospital EC enables both personal and state data to be recorded, stored and analysed. The system reduces the cognitive load on medical staff through its reminders and messaging functionality and through proactive information sharing. The interfacing dimension achieves information filtering and interface personalisation. This helps to make the workflow of staff easier and more efficient. The intersection of all three RCI dimensions enables the system to assist with error reduction and aid the decision making of the user. The EC-HCPS provides a human-centric approach to manage information in a hospital EC. This research did not consider the challenges of system deployment – an area of future research. Prior to this, increased system testing is required to better evaluate the quality of the system software.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ontwikkel die digitale komponent van 'n menslike-kuber-fisiesestelsel vir ʼn ongevalle-sentrum (emergency centre human cyber-physical system, EC-HCPS) om inligtingsbestuur te fasiliteer. Die pasiëntbehandelingsbaan deur 'n hospitaalse ongevalle-sentrum word ontleed om mens-stelsel-integrasie (humansystem integration, HSI) te verbeter. Die Verteenwoordiging-KommunikasieKoppelvlak (Representation-Communication-Interfacing, RCI) raamwerk word deur die hele stelselontwerp- en evalueringsproses gebruik om HSI te bereik. Die Aktiwiteit-Hulpbron-Tipe-Instansie (Activity-Resource-Type-Instance, ARTI) argitektuur word gebruik om die stelselargitektuur te ontwikkel wat uit verskeie interaktiewe aktiwiteit- en hulpbron-holone bestaan. Die EC-HCPS word geïmplementeer met behulp van die Biografie-Kenmerk-Skedule-Uitvoering (Biography-Attributes-Schedule-Execution, BASE) sagtewareplatform. Die ARTI argitektuurontwerp is gebeeld op die BASE sagtewareplatform met behulp van die holoniese stelsels-ontwerpbenadering en gebruikerskoppelvlakke is ontwikkel met die webgebaseerde bediener, SvelteKit. Die funksionele en nie-funksionele stelselvereistes en die mate waartoe HSI verbeter is, is getoets deur 'n evalueringseksperiment by die Constantiaberg Mediclinic Noodsentrum uit te voer. Etiekklaring is in 2022 verkry van die Navorsingsetiekkomitee vir Sosiale, Gedrags- en Opvoedkundige navorsing aan die Universiteit Stellenbosch om 'n gevallestudie uit te voer. Die evalueringsmetodes het 'n stelselvergelyking, gebruikersopname en 'n gekontroleerde simulasie ingesluit. Die resultate toon dat die EC-HCPS voldoen aan die funksionele vereistes deur multimodale data-versameling, rekordhouding, stoor en analisering van data te verrig, en asook deur en inligtingsdeling moontlik te maak. Verskeie niefunksionele vereistes is getoets en bevredig, insluitend doeltreffendheid, hoewel sommige sagteware-kenmerke verdere werk vereis. Die evaluasie van die EC-HCPS toon dat dit HSI verbeter deur volwassenheid by te voeg tot elke dimensie van die RCI-raamwerk. Die verteenwoordiging van verskeie hulpbronne in 'n hospitaal ongevalle-sentrum maak dit moontlik om beide persoonlike en toestandsdata te versamel, te stoor en te analiseer. Die stelsel verminder die kognitiewe las op mediese personeel deur sy herinnerings- en boodskapfunksionaliteit en proaktiewe inligtingsdelingsvermoë. Die koppelvlakdimensie behaal inligtingsfiltrering en koppelvlak-verpersoonliking, en help om personeel se werksvloei makliker en doeltreffender te maak. Die kombinasie van al drie RCI-dimensies stel die stelsel in staat om te help met foutvermindering en die besluitneming van die gebruiker te ondersteun. Die EC-HCPS bied 'n mensgesentreerde benadering om inligting in 'n hospitaal noodsentrum te bestuur. Hierdie navorsing het nie die uitdagings van stelsel-ontplooiing in ag geneem nie, wat as 'n area vir toekomstige navorsing geïdentifiseer word. Voor dit is meer stelseltoetsing nodig om die gehalte van die sagteware van die stelsel beter te evalueer.
Description
Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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