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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTAMP:20260323T181727Z
LOCATION:Rhinelander Gallery
DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20260324T164500
DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20260324T181500
UID:HFESHCS_2026 International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics i
 n Health Care_sess111_POST222@linklings.com
SUMMARY:From Creepy to Credible: Redesigning Procedure-Focused Simulation 
 Tools
DESCRIPTION:Maya Gonczi (Research Collective)\n\nHuman factors medical dev
 ice evaluations use simulation to replicate critical procedures in a contr
 olled, low-risk setting. Yet even when the environment is adequate, the to
 ols we place in participants’ hands (i.e., “procedure-focused simulation t
 ools”) frequently fail to support authentic behavior.\n\nMany procedure-fo
 cused simulation tools—such as medical manikins and injection pads—may fal
 l into the so-called "uncanny valley," potentially eliciting discomfort ra
 ther than engagement. This can occur when they include superficial details
  that have little impact on user behavior, while overlooking critical aspe
 cts of tactile, cognitive, and emotional realism that are essential for cr
 eating effective and immersive simulation experiences. Medical manikins of
 ten include details like teeth or eyelashes that do not enhance the realis
 m of targeted use scenarios, while lacking more impactful features such as
  accurate body proportions and realistic skin texture. Injection pads can 
 be awkwardly shaped, leading participants to perform injections at unnatur
 al angles, and they are frequently available in only a single skin tone, w
 hich can limit both realism and inclusivity. \n\nThis poster highlights th
 e gap between intended and actual fidelity in procedure-focused simulation
  tools and presents a framework for designing or selecting tools that bett
 er support valid, behaviorally realistic human factors evaluations. Drawin
 g on lessons from immersive procedure simulations developed in earlier app
 lied settings and on current development work for an intentionally low-fid
 elity manikin designed to avoid the uncanny valley, the poster organizes k
 ey insights into four domains of “focused fidelity”: task-relevant tactile
  cues, functional responsiveness, psychological engagement, and inclusive 
 representation.\n\nAttendees will gain practical criteria for assessing wh
 ether a simulation tool is “realistic enough” to elicit authentic user beh
 avior, along with examples illustrating how prioritizing focused fidelity 
 improves engagement and strengthens the validity of simulated-use data. Th
 e ultimate takeaway: It's time for our simulation tools to reflect the hum
 an factors standards they were designed to evaluate.\n\nTrack: Digital Hea
 lth, Hospital Environments, Patient Safety Research and Initiatives, Medic
 al and Drug Delivery Devices, Simulation and Education\n\n
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