Psychosocial factors, workload, and human error in a simulated pharmacy dispensing task

Participants filled 42 orders on a task designed to simulate components of filling prescriptions. Task factors included objective workload of 70- vers us 80-min. to complete the task and perceptions of workload dimensions usin g the NASA Task Load Index. The proportion and pattern of data-entry, count ing, and product-selection errors were compatible with those found in pharm acy field-sites. Significant other relationship stress, field-dependence, a nd an 80-min. workpace predicted data-entry errors. Mistakes in product sel ection were associated with low GPA, high social stress, the NASA Task Load Index dimension of less concern with per forming well, and a 70-min. workp ace. Relationship of data to corresponding information in the pharmacy lite rature and to assumptions of a cognitive-systems performence model was disc ussed.