Optimal approaches to the quality control checking of product labels

Quality control checkers at fresh produce packaging facilities occasionally fail to detect incorrect information presented on labels. Despite being infrequent, such errors have significant financial and environmental repercussions. To understand why label-checking errors occur, observations and interviews were undertaken at a large packaging facility and followed up with a laboratory-based label-checking task. The observations highlighted the dynamic, complex environment in which label-checking took place, whilst the interviews revealed that operatives had not received formal training in label-checking. On the laboratory-based task, overall error detection accuracy was high but considerable individual differences were found between professional label-checkers. Response times were shorter when participants failed to detect label errors, suggesting incomplete checking or ineffective checking strategies. Furthermore, eye movement recordings indicated that checkers who adopted a systematic approach to checking were more successful in detecting errors. The extent to which a label checker adopted a systematic approach was not found to correlate with the number of years of experience that they had accrued in label-checking. To minimize the chances of label errors going undetected, explicit instruction and training, personnel selection and/or the use of software to guide performance towards a more systematic approach is recommended

Reducing quality control errors by guiding behavior

It is estimated that human error in the quality control checking of product labels on consumer packaging costs the UK retail industry £50m per annum. Our research program aimed to understand the behavior of individuals when performing label checks on fresh produce in order to inform the development of a software application designed to support quality control. On a simulated label checking task, eye-tracking data showed that individuals used different checking methods. A more systematic method led to higher accuracy. Two computer-assisted approaches, varying in the level of computer support provided, were then designed to push checkers towards systematic checking. Greater improvements in accuracy were found under the computer-assisted approaches than under a control condition. A three-month onsite trial of a software application designed on the basis of these research findings led to a 100% decrease in quality control errors

Developing the content of two behavioural interventions : using theory-based interventions to promote GP management of upper respiratory tract infection without prescribing antibiotics #1

Background: Evidence shows that antibiotics have limited effectiveness in the management of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) yet GPs continue to prescribe antibiotics. Implementation research does not currently provide a strong evidence base to guide the choice of interventions to promote the uptake of such evidence-based practice by health professionals. While systematic reviews demonstrate that interventions to change clinical practice can be effective, heterogeneity between studies hinders generalisation to routine practice. Psychological models of behaviour change that have been used successfully to predict variation in behaviour in the general population can also predict the clinical behaviour of healthcare professionals. The purpose of this study was to design two theoretically-based interventions to promote the management of upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) without prescribing antibiotics. Method: Interventions were developed using a systematic, empirically informed approach in which we: selected theoretical frameworks; identified modifiable behavioural antecedents that predicted GPs intended and actual management of URTI; mapped these target antecedents on to evidence-based behaviour change techniques; and operationalised intervention components in a format suitable for delivery by postal questionnaire. Results: We identified two psychological constructs that predicted GP management of URTI: "Self-efficacy," representing belief in one's capabilities, and "Anticipated consequences," representing beliefs about the consequences of one's actions. Behavioural techniques known to be effective in changing these beliefs were used in the design of two paper-based, interactive interventions. Intervention 1 targeted self-efficacy and required GPs to consider progressively more difficult situations in a "graded task" and to develop an "action plan" of what to do when next presented with one of these situations. Intervention 2 targeted anticipated consequences and required GPs to respond to a "persuasive communication" containing a series of pictures representing the consequences of managing URTI with and without antibiotics. Conclusion: It is feasible to systematically develop theoretically-based interventions to change professional practice. Two interventions were designed that differentially target generalisable constructs predictive of GP management of URTI. Our detailed and scientific rationale for the choice and design of our interventions will provide a basis for understanding any effects identified in their evaluation. Trial registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00376142This study is funded by the European Commission Research Directorate as part of a multi-partner program: Research Based Education and Quality Improvement (ReBEQI): A Framework and tools to develop effective quality improvement programs in European healthcare. (Proposal No: QLRT-2001-00657)

Label-checking strategies to adapt behaviour to design

Despite robust quality control procedures, labelling errors on fresh produce are estimated to cost the UK supermarket industry approximately £50million pounds per year in product recalls and wastage. Changing the format of the labels themselves is not a viable option. Instead, the challenge is to change or guide human operatives’ behaviour so that label printing errors do not go undetected during quality control procedures. To this end, a simulated label checking task was presented to naïve participants to compare more systematic and strategic methods of label checking. Two conditions in which behaviour was computer-led were compared with a control condition in which checkers adopted their own idiosyncratic checking method. The data indicate that the two computer-led approaches resulted in improved levels of accuracy. Pushing label checkers towards a more systematic approach would appear to be effective in reducing undetected label errors, and could lead potentially to significant financial savings and reduce

Cognitive predictors of accuracy in quality control checking

Labelling errors on fresh produce are estimated to cost the UK supermarket industry £50m per year in product recalls and wastage. Such errors occur despite robust quality control procedures. Given the financial and environmental impact of these errors, it is important to understand whether label-checking performance can be predicted by individual differences in cognitive abilities. To this end, participants carried out a simulated label-checking task together with a number of measures of information processing speed, attention, short-term/working memory, and mind-wandering. Accuracy of label checking was found to be significantly predicted by three of the measures, with better short-term verbal memory being most strongly associated with performance. Cognitive tests such as these provide a means of identifying how well employees are likely to perform when undertaking such tasks and, if necessary, how they should be supported in that role, possibly forming a screening battery when recruiting new quality control staff. The findings highlight the importance of determining the component processes of cognition which contribute to performance in real-world work environments

Torsional and electronic factors control the C−H···O interaction

The precise role of non-conventional hydrogen bonds such as the C−H···O interaction in influencing the conformation of small molecules remains unresolved. Here we survey a series of β-turn mimetics using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum calculation, and conclude that favourable torsional and electronic effects are important for the population of states with conformationally influential C−H···O interactions. Our results also highlight the challenge in attempting to deconvolute a myriad of interdependent non-covalent interactions in order to focus on the contribution of a single one. Within a small molecule that is designed to resemble the complexity of the environment within peptides and proteins, the interplay of different steric burdens, hydrogen acceptor/donor properties and rotational profiles illustrate why unambiguous conclusions based solely on NMR chemical shift data are extremely challenging to rationalize

Torsional and electronic factors control the C−H···O interaction

The precise role of non-conventional hydrogen bonds such as the C−H···O interaction in influencing the conformation of small molecules remains unresolved. Here we survey a series of β-turn mimetics using X-ray crystallography and NMR spectroscopy in conjunction with quantum calculation, and conclude that favourable torsional and electronic effects are important for the population of states with conformationally influential C−H···O interactions. Our results also highlight the challenge in attempting to deconvolute a myriad of interdependent non-covalent interactions in order to focus on the contribution of a single one. Within a small molecule that is designed to resemble the complexity of the environment within peptides and proteins, the interplay of different steric burdens, hydrogen acceptor/donor properties and rotational profiles illustrate why unambiguous conclusions based solely on NMR chemical shift data are extremely challenging to rationalize

Tetrahydrofuran amino acids - versatile building blocks for unnatural biopolymers: lack of secondary structure in oligomeric carbopeptoids derived from a D-galacto-5-(aminomethyl) tetrahydrofuran-2-carboxylic acid

The efficient synthesis of a D-galacto-configured tetrahydrofuran amino acid from a seven-carbon lactone as a monomer for the generation of sequence-defined structured biopolymer mimics is described. Investigations into the characteristics of homooligomeric derivatives of this monomer indicate that they do not adopt well defined secondary structures. The unanticipated formation of a heterooligomeric derivative and investigations into its solution structure are also described. © The Royal Society of Chemistry 2000

Synthesis of oligomers of tetrahydrofuran amino acids: furanose carbopeptoids

An acid catalysed ring rearrangement of a triflate derivative of D-mannono-γ-lactone 6 is the key step in the synthesis of the C-glycosyl sugar amino acid derivatives 3 and 4, examples of carbohydrate amino acid building blocks with specific conformational preferences suitable for incorporation into combinatorial amide libraries; homo-oligomerisation via solution phase coupling procedures affords furanose carbopeptoids 1 which adopt novel solution state secondary structures