1. Demonstrate current, systematic knowledge and understanding of the Human Factors (HF) method, sciences and principles and the importance of applying this knowledge within a Health and Social Care Setting
Knowledge and Understanding, Professional Requirement

2. Critically interact with the developing HF agenda within the Health and Social Care sector and be able to critically evaluate the appropriateness of the response for improving patient safety
Knowledge and Understanding, Analysis

3. Identify, compare and contrast national and international HF research output and be able to critically evaluate this in relation to the needs of the Health and Social Care sector; and more specifically, patient, service user and staff safety
Learning and Enquiry

4. Systematically Identify your current and ongoing level of HF understanding, particularly in terms of the CIEHF competencies and ethical requirements, so that you can take personal responsibility for identifying and addressing your own developmental needs for continuous professional development
Reflection, Professional Requirement

Summative Assessments:
The Coursework Essay must provide a Critical Evaluation of the contribution Human Factors competencies can make to patient safety in Health and Social Care. This must include how your understanding of HF has changed from week 1 of the module. This will need to be completed and handed in at the end of Term 1, University week 14. This essay links to learning outcomes 1, 2, 3 and 4

Formative Assessments:
You may submit your week one 250 word commentary, your initial understanding of Human Factors, at the end of week 2 to receive formative feedback. This links to learning outcome 1 and will be used during your summative assessment.

To support your learning and development you will be given the opportunity to submit a set of five entries into your personal portfolio logbook for feedback. This will help you develop the habit of updating your logbook at the end of each week. Your logbook entries will need to be handed in at the end of Term 1, University week 14 to receive formative feedback. This links specifically to learning outcome 4

Links will be provided to multi-choice tests so that you can check your HF knowledge’. This links to Learning outcomes 1 - 4

The Discussion Board is regularly attended by your course tutors in order to provide feedback. This links to Learning Outcomes 1-4

“Introducing Human Factors” is the first module of the PGCert and MSc Human Factors for Patient Safety. It will introduce you to the concept and profession of Human Factors. The subject will be placed within the context of Health and Social Care and will consider how this knowledge can be used to support both Safety and Quality performance.

During this module you will be provided with:
1. A clear understanding of the terms Human Factors and Ergonomics, including a range of definitions to discuss and reflect on when compared with some of the myths and misconceptions around these terms.

2. An Overview of the scientific basis of the discipline of Human Factors and the positive impact this discipline can have on Social systems and socio technical systems

3. A history of the development of the Human Factors/Ergonomics discipline and theories (eg the theories of; information processing, user centred design, the normal distribution of human size, human error causation, normalisation of risk) and the development of the profession both within the UK and internationally

4. An understanding of how the UK and other countries view Human Factors, including its role within the Patient Safety agenda. This will be placed within the health and social care Human Factors journey covering Contemporary concerns with respect to Patient Safety, Service User Safety and Staff safety

5. Expectations of a Human Factors Professional, including the code of conduct and ethical requirements of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF)

6. An Overview of the Human Factors P

Have you ever wondered what Human Factors really means and why it is important for patient, service user and staff safety?

Very simply: Human Factors is concerned with the application of what we know about people (our abilities, characteristics and limitations) to the design and management of equipment we use, environments in which we function and the activities we have to perform.

This module provides you with an introduction to Human Factors, the profession and the national and international response from the Health and Social Care sectors. It will also help you to assess whether you have already achieved any of the Human Factors professional competencies and to add these to your personal portfolio log-book. This is needed as you work towards chartered membership of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors (CIEHF). For our international students these professional competencies also align with those identified by the International Ergonomics Association so you can be sure that these will meet the requirements for membership of your local professional body.

This module will commence with a welcome to the course, each other and your course and module leads. We will explain the format of the PGCert, the contents of this module, what to expect, and the resources available.

A new topic area will be released each week and once released these materials will remain open for you to use at any time, at your own pace. The topic introduction may be in the form of a lecture, webinar, power point lecture, animation or text introduction. The duration will match the complexity of the information being delivered. This will be supported by specific texts and additional materials for you to access during the week.

A discussion board will go live in week one. At a set time each week your module lead will be available on-line to answer questions and to add discussion board content.

One-to-one online tutorials will be available from week 6.

You will be expected to undertake guided independent study to consolidate your learning, and to complete formative and summative assessments.

Scheduled teaching and learning activities (20):
This includes on-line lectures, webinars, videos, briefings; online interactive discussions; individual tutorial on campus or by phone or video; on campus presentations, discussions, labs, activities

Guided Independent Study Hours (60):
This includes online materials, tasks, discussions and links

Independent Study Hours (120):
This includes time to complete your Portfolio logbook, your summative assessment, reading and research

Dekker, S. (2011) Patient Safety – A Human Factors Approach. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press

Department of Health Expert Group chaired by Donaldson, L. (2000) An organisation with a memory; report of an expert group on learning from adverse events in the NHS chaired by the Chief Medical officer. Available at:
https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130105105027/http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsand statistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4065083

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Quality of Health Care in America (2000) To Err is Human: Building a safer health system. Washington DC: National Academies Press

NHS Improvement (2 July 2019) The NHS Patient Safety Strategy. Available at: https://.improvement.nhs.uk/resources/patient-safety-strategy/

Pascale Carayon, editor (2017) Handbook of Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care and Patient Safety, second edit. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press

Shorrock, S. and Williams, C. (2016) Human Factors and Ergonomics in Practice. London: CRC Press

Wears, R. & Sutcliffe, K.M. (2019) Still Not Safe. New York: Oxford University Press

Successful completion of this module will require you to have access to a Computer and good internet access