Iranian Journal of Ergonomics

Designing a Structural Model of Human Cognitive Interaction and Emerging Information Technologies for Enhancing Organizational Digital Agility: A Human Factors Engineering Approach

Nabi Omidi

Background and Objective: Digital agility has become a critical capability for modern organizations and requires effective interaction between humans and emerging information technologies. Despite substantial investments in advanced digital technologies, insufficient attention to cognitive and human factors may reduce the effectiveness of digital transformation initiatives. This study aimed to develop a structural model of human cognitive interaction with emerging information technologies to enhance organizational digital agility from a human factor engineering perspective.
Methods: A mixed-methods approach with an exploratory sequential design was employed. In the qualitative phase, 16 experts in human factors engineering, cognitive science, information technology, and digital transformation were selected through purposive sampling and engaged in semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed through thematic analysis. In the quantitative phase, the conceptual model was tested using a researcher-developed questionnaire administered to a sample of 378 participants, including managers and employees of Digikala Company. Data were analyzed using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in LISREL software.
Results: The qualitative findings identified 5 main themes and 26 sub-themes. Quantitative results indicated that the proposed model demonstrated satisfactory fit indices (χ²/df=2.36, GFI=0.92, CFI=0.95, RMSEA=0.060, and SRMR=0.055). All dimensions of the model had positive and significant effects on organizational digital agility. Among them, organizational enablers showed the strongest effect (β=0.46).
Conclusion: The findings revealed that digital agility emerges from the integration of users’ cognitive capabilities, advanced information technologies, human factors, and organizational infrastructures. The proposed model provides a practical framework for enhancing digital agility and improving the success of digital transformation initiatives in organizations .

Developing a Structural Model of Employee Psychological Well-being Based on Occupational Stress, Personality, and Psychological Capital

Maryam Khosravizad

Background and Objective: Hospital environments, due to the nature of their services, are considered among the most stressful work environments, which pose a serious challenge to the mental health of employees. This study was conducted with the aim of designing and testing a structural model of psychological well-being among the clinical and administrative staff of Milad Hospital in Tehran. Given the study's focus on a specialized medical center, the results are more generalizable to similar hospital environments, and caution should be exercised in generalizing them to other sectors of the healthcare system.
Methods: This study employed a mixed-methods (sequential exploratory) approach. In the qualitative phase, using interpretive phenomenology and 16 in-depth interviews with experts, the main goal of this study was to examine the impact of living environments, analyzed using MAXQDA 2020. In the quantitative phase, based on the qualitative findings, a 30-item questionnaire was developed and distributed among 300 hospital employees. Data analysis and fitting of the final model were performed using Covariance-Based Structural Equation Modeling (CB-SEM) in LISREL 8.8 software.
Results: In the qualitative phase of the study, three main themes—personality traits, psychological capital, and job stress—were identified, along with a total of 30 sub-themes. The results of the quantitative model testing indicated that the conceptual model demonstrated a good fit (χ²/df = 2.36, CFI = 0.93, RMSEA = 0.063). The findings confirmed that psychological capital (β = 0.48) and personality traits (β = 0.41) had positive and significant effects, while job stress (β = -0.33) had a negative and significant effect on psychological well-being (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The results of this study emphasize the necessity of moving from approaches merely based on efficiency and performance control (tool-based management) toward human-centered approaches in healthcare human resource management.

Validation of the Persian Version of the Occupational Anxiety Inventory among Iranian workforce

Seyed Abolfazl zakerian

Background and Objectives: Occupational anxiety is a critical psychological issue in the workplace, negatively impacting employee mental health, job satisfaction, and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of the Occupational Anxiety Inventory among Iranian workers.
Methods: A cross-sectional validation study was conducted. The questionnaire was translated into Persian using the forward-backward procedure. Data were collected via online surveys using convenience sampling. Internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha and Composite Reliability (CR). Construct validity was examined through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA and CFA), and convergent validity was evaluated using the Average Variance Extracted (AVE). Criterion validity was assessed by examining correlations between occupational anxiety and general anxiety, work-related outcomes, and demographic variables.
Results: The Persian version of the Occupational Anxiety showed excellent internal consistency, with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.95. The Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin index was 0.941, and Bartlett’s test was significant, supporting factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis indicated acceptable factor loadings, and confirmatory factor analysis showed standardized loadings ranging from 0.688 to 0.878. The AVE was 0.66 and CR was 0.951, indicating good convergent validity and reliability. Occupational anxiety was positively correlated with general anxiety (r=0.693) , impaired functioning due to anxiety, sick leave, intention to quit, and history of anxiety and depression. Negative correlations were found with job satisfaction, pay satisfaction, benefits satisfaction, promotion satisfaction, job security, supervisor support, and coworker support.
Conclusion: The Persian version of the Occupational Anxiety Inventory has very favorable psychometric properties. This instrument has the necessary validity and reliability to measure occupational anxiety in the Iranian employee population and is recommended to researchers and occupational health professionals for screening, identifying anxiety dimensions, and developing preventive interventions.

Designing and modeling shoes for patients with drop foot using statistical and ergonomic analysis

mohammadreza Zamani

Background and Objectives: Foot drop is caused by neurological disorders and traumatic injuries and can impair gait pattern and increase energy expenditure during walking. The use of appropriate rehabilitation devices plays an important role in improving patients’ motor performance. The aim of this study was to provide the design basis for a rehabilitation shoe intended to improve selected biomechanical parameters, including toe angle, muscle torque, and step length in patients with foot drop. The findings of this study are considered preliminary design evidence, and further studies with larger sample sizes are required before moving toward product development and manufacturing.

Methods: This study was a case-based biomechanical simulation investigation. The evaluated variables included toe angle, tibialis anterior muscle torque, and step length. These variables were extracted using musculoskeletal modeling in OpenSim software and finite element analysis in ABAQUS. The obtained data were compared under four simulation conditions, including the designed shoe, reference ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), patient condition, and healthy control. Data analysis was performed descriptively based on the evaluation and comparison of biomechanical trend changes.

Results: The results showed that the use of the designed shoe improved toe angle during the swing phase by approximately 80% compared with the patient condition. In addition, tibialis anterior muscle torque increased by approximately 85%, and step length also improved relative to the patient condition. These findings indicate a relative improvement in gait-related biomechanical parameters in the proposed model.

Conclusion: The proposed design improved three key biomechanical parameters, including step length, tibialis anterior muscle torque, and toe angle. Furthermore, the case-based simulation and descriptive statistical findings suggested that the proposed model has the potential to effectively control the coordinated movement of the ankle and forefoot in individuals with foot drop.

Predicting teachers' job vitality based on the variables of person-job fit, person-organization fit, workload, and job engagement (Case study: teachers in Ardakan City)

Hamid Rahimi

Purpose: Job vitality is one of the most key psychological components in the workplace that is affected by several factors. The present study aimed to predict teachers' job vitality based on the variables of person-job fit, person-organization fit, workload, and job engagement.

Method: This study is quantitative in nature and applied in purpose. The statistical population of the study consisted of teachers in schools in Ardakan City, of which 263 people were selected using convenience sampling. The data collection tools included standard questionnaires of job engagement, job vitality, person-job fit, person-organization fit, and workload. Through Cronbach's alpha coefficient, the reliability of the person-organization fit questionnaire obtained equal to 0.72, person-job fit 0.80, workload 0.75, job engagement 0.795, and job vitality 0.84. Data analysis was performed using SPSS₂₄ and Smart PLS software’s.

Result: The findings showed that all four variables of workload, person-organization fit, person-job fit, and job engagement have a significant effect on job vitality; however, according to the findings, job engagement (β=0.574) is the strongest positive predictor and workload (β=-0.098) is the main factor reducing job vitality in the study population..

Conclusion: Paying attention to the fit between the person with job and organization, enhancing job engagement, and reducing teachers' workload can be used as key strategies to improve motivation and vitality in the education system, and the results of this study can also be a guide for education managers to improve the work climate and enhance the psychological capabilities of teachers.

Association of musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life among dentists

Mohsen Poursadeghiyan

Background: Dentistry, as a profession characterized by a static nature, repetitive movements, and occupational stress, is considered a high-risk occupation for the development of musculoskeletal disorders and reduced quality of life. The aim of this research was to investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and quality of life among dentists.
Methods: This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in 2025 on 150 practicing dentists in the city of Ardabil. Samples were selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using standard questionnaires, including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for musculoskeletal disorders and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 26 software with Chi-square and logistic regression tests.
Results: The most commonly affected areas were the lower back (64.7%), neck (60.7%), and shoulders (52.1%). These problems had led to reduced professional activity in 28.7% of the individuals. Quality of life was at a moderate to low level, with the lowest score belonging to the environmental health domain (56.79 out of 100). A significant association was observed between lower quality of life and increased musculoskeletal complaints in some body areas (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate a very high and concerning prevalence of musculoskeletal problems and a moderate quality of life among dentists in Ardabil. Furthermore, the findings emphasize the necessity of implementing comprehensive intervention programs to improve workplace ergonomics and enhance the health and quality of life of dentists.

Investigating the Association Between Hand Tool Discomfort and Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Disabilities Among Artisans in Isfahan, 2025

Neda Mahdavi

Background and Objective: Handicraft artists in Isfahan Province are at heightened risk of developing upper‑extremity musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work, which involves repetitive movements and awkward postures. This study was conducted to examine the influence of hand‑tool characteristics on upper‑extremity musculoskeletal discomfort among these artisans.

Methods: In this cross-sectional analytical study, 191 artisans (70 women and 121 men) working in the fields of enameling, turquoise inlaying, miniature painting, and metal engraving were selected through random sampling. Data were collected using demographic questionnaires, the Quick version of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (Quick-DASH) questionnaire, and the Comfort QH (CQH) tool comfort questionnaire. Statistical analyses were conducted using Stata version 17, and a significance level of less than 0.05 was considered for all statistical tests.

Results: The mean and standard deviation of the Quick-DASH score were estimated at 28.89 and 4.91, respectively. The highest Quick-DASH score was related to the engravers, with a mean of 30.89 and a standard deviation of 2.91. Work experience was a factor influencing the Quick-DASH score (P = 0.003). The mean CQH questionnaire score for artists was 1.09 with a standard deviation of 0.26. Turquoise inlay workers and engravers had the most discomfort from the tools, with a mean (standard deviation) of 1.04(0.23). No significant correlation was observed between upper limb disability and tool comfort.

Conclusion: The handicraft artists of Isfahan, who routinely perform highly repetitive and fine manual tasks, are exposed to a considerable risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders. Although no statistically significant association was found between musculoskeletal disability and discomfort related to hand tools, both univariate and multivariate analyses highlighted the substantial impact of hand‑tool comfort on upper‑extremity musculoskeletal discomfort.