What is the focus of ergonomics in healthcare?

The focus of ergonomics in healthcare is primarily on designing safe operations and work environments. This involves creating systems and processes that minimize physical strain on healthcare workers while ensuring their safety and efficiency. Ergonomics aims to optimize the interaction between healthcare staff and their work environment—be it through the arrangement of equipment, tools, or patient spaces—to reduce the risk of injury and promote better overall performance.

In the context of healthcare, this means ensuring that tasks such as lifting, transferring, and assisting patients are performed using proper body mechanics and equipment designed to mitigate risks. By enhancing how tasks are structured, ergonomics contributes to greater job satisfaction for healthcare workers and better care for patients, as staff are less fatigued and more focused.

The other options involve different aspects of patient care or health management, but they do not directly relate to the principles of ergonomics. Improving patient diet and nutrition, enhancing pharmacological interventions, and promoting physical exercise are all important facets of healthcare, but they address different needs, such as nutrition, medication management, and physical wellness, rather than the design of the workplace and safety measures for personnel.