Work

Role-specific experiences of inefficiency in the biomedical research and clinical laboratory workforce

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Inefficiencies impose a significant burden on healthcare workers, resulting in adverse consequences for organizations and their employees. Previous studies have explored how clinical workers perceive these inefficiencies. However, little is known about the biomedical research and clinical laboratory workforce. Open-ended survey responses from 560 biomedical research and clinical laboratory workers in a large academic medical center in the southeastern United States were analyzed using hybrid inductive-deductive qualitative thematic analysis. Employees' perceptions of tasks, processes, or systems considered duplicative, poorly designed, or unnecessary were used to describe the experience of organizational inefficiencies among biomedical research and clinical laboratory workers, and to compare experiences by professional roles. The three inefficiencies with the highest case frequency were software inefficiency (n = 55, 9.82%), appropriate staffing (n = 54, 9.64%), and communication (n = 51, 9.11%). The findings highlight potential targets for intervention and aim to guide organizational strategies that promote positive work outcomes in this understudied population.

Source: Applied Ergonomics

DOI: 10.1016/j.apergo.2026.104853

Authors: A.J. Tucker, M.C. Schall, A.M. Traylor, P.J. Sprik, D.A. Rogers, L.M. Boitet

Institutions: Auburn University, University of Alabama at Birmingham, UAB Medicine, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Language: English

Topic: Clinical Laboratory Practices and Quality Control

Subfield: Physiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Decent work and economic growth

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,400