Table 4.

Macroergonomic System Factors Shaping Patient’s or Family’s “Work” Performance

Work System Elements	Examples of System Elements Shaping Patient’s or Family’s “Work” Performance
People	Given what they are asked to or want to do, do patients or families have adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities? How motivated are they? What are their goals and how well do they align with the goals of clinicians or the healthcare system?
Tasks	How difficult or complex are the tasks relative to patients’ or families’ abilities? How many tasks are to be done and how are tasks allocated to patients, families, and health care clinicians? How do these tasks align with the perceived or desired roles of those individuals?
Tools/technologies	Do patients or families have the information they need or the means for obtaining the information? Do they have technology to track or communicate information? Do they have the medical equipment needed for self-monitoring and therapy? Is the technology they have compatible with planned interventions, such as e-mail reminders or informational websites?
Organization	Are patients and families recognized as partners in their health and care? What rights do they have? Do their schedules align with those of the health system’s?
Environment	Do patients or families have a place to do their work? Is it free of noise and distractions? Is there adequate lighting, privacy, space, and utilities? Are their living arrangements conducive to healthy behaviors? Do surrounding social, political, legal, and educational systems facilitate or impede patients’ or families’ activities?