In Health Care the human factor, both as individual and part of a team, is the main factor in patient safety. Human decision making, together with cognitive and organisational ergonomics influence individual and team performance and thus patients safety.

One interesting project we started working on, is the modelling of behavioural interactions (team performance) in dynamic, complex and critical environments such as the shockroom, ICU and operating room. Through this, we hope to identify factors that hamper or enhance team performance.

Another is to adapt the working and living environment to fit the needs of professionals (safe surroundings). This we aim to achieve with support of both technology (such as AI/AAL) and the creation of behavioural awareness, that is better adapted to the highly techno-social environment that health care has become.

A further approach we investigate, are the concepts of ‘freedom in a frame’ and ‘contextual reasoning’. These concepts are about allowing a greater degree of freedom for the health care professional to act in the best interest of the patient. Instead of rigid protocols, we aim to set up a supportive information frame in which conscious adaptations can and should be made dependent on the context. We believe that such a ‘conscious context system’ adds to the resilience of the system in preventing failures.

A further research line lies in religion and its influence on human behaviour and motivation. This links to a research line on ethical and religious cultural aspects of safety and healthcare.