Cannady Ryan T, Yoder Aaron, Miller Jeffrey, Crosby Kaitlyn, Kintziger Kristina W
Department of Environmental, Agricultural & Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
Department of Health Promotion, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska.
J Occup Environ Hyg. 2025 Mar;22(3):203-213. doi: 10.1080/15459624.2024.2439812. Epub 2025 Jan 6.
Software-driven wearable technologies are emerging as a control for heat-related illnesses. Such devices collect biometric data and estimate risk noninvasively. However, little is known about workplace implementation strategies and stakeholder acceptance of the devices. As part of a mixed-methods pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of wearable technologies, the authors invited six agricultural workers with no device experience to participate in a semi-structured focus group, after wearing two devices (e.g., MākuSafe, Des Moines, IA, United States; SlateSafety, V2, Atlanta, GA, United States) for a standard work week. The focus group was separated into two parts: the first assessed the overall understanding of heat stress, and the second captured workers' perceptions of the wearable technologies. For each topic, the authors extracted relevant themes that describe farm workers' general understanding of heat hazards and worker interaction with wearable technology used in heat-related risk. These themes provide relevant answers to the questions outlined in the semi-structured questionnaire that can guide future research into the use of these devices in occupational settings. Wearable technologies continue to be used to control heat-related illnesses. Therefore, it is critically important to gather key strategies for employer implementation and user-interface considerations.
软件驱动的可穿戴技术正在成为一种应对与热相关疾病的控制手段。此类设备收集生物特征数据并以非侵入性方式评估风险。然而，对于工作场所的实施策略以及利益相关者对这些设备的接受度，我们知之甚少。作为一项评估可穿戴技术可行性的混合方法试点研究的一部分，作者邀请了六名没有使用过此类设备经验的农业工人，在佩戴两种设备（例如，美国爱荷华州得梅因市的MākuSafe；美国佐治亚州亚特兰大市的SlateSafety V2）度过一个标准工作周后，参加一个半结构化焦点小组。焦点小组分为两部分：第一部分评估对热应激的总体理解，第二部分了解工人对可穿戴技术的看法。对于每个主题，作者提取了相关主题，这些主题描述了农场工人对热危害的一般理解以及工人在与热相关风险中使用可穿戴技术的互动情况。这些主题为半结构化问卷中提出的问题提供了相关答案，可指导未来对这些设备在职业环境中使用情况的研究。可穿戴技术继续被用于控制与热相关的疾病。因此，收集雇主实施的关键策略以及用户界面方面的考虑因素至关重要。
