Thermal Comfort of Different Desktop Materials (Materials)

Effects of Different Desktop Materials on Thermal Comfort and Attention

The aim of this study is to test the suitability of different types of desk surfaces. The investigators will test 10 different surfaces (oak-ruff, oak-varnished, oak-oiled, spruce-ruff, spruce-varnished, spruce-oiled, particleboard laminate, particleboard veneer, corian and glass). Firstly, the investigators will perform tests to assess physical characteristics of the materials (thermal conductivity, hardness, roughness, skid measures). Secondly, the investigators will measure the participants' forearm skin temperature after 20-minutes of using each desk surface. During those 20 minutes the participants will solve an attention test.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Office Desk Ergonomics
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Desk surface

Detailed Description

People are surrounded by objects that are made of different materials. These materials should be carefully chosen, especially the ones that are in direct contact with user's skin. Office workers are constantly in contact with desk surface (while reading, typing, filling in forms, etc.). Therefore, it is important that the material of desk surface is suitable and properly chosen. It should be both functional and aesthetic. The aim of this study is to evaluate the suitability of different desk surfaces for sedentary workers. The investigators will test 10 different surfaces (oak-ruff, oak-varnished, oak-oiled, spruce-ruff, spruce-varnished, spruce-oiled, particleboard laminate, particleboard veneer, corian and glass). All surfaces will be square shaped (800x800 mm). Firstly, the investigators will perform tests to assess physical characteristics of the materials (thermal conductivity, hardness, roughness, skid measures). Secondly, the investigators will measure the participants' forearm skin temperature after 20-minutes of desk use. Every participant will test all 10 sample desk surfaces (cross-over design). The investigators will use thermal IR camera to measure the temperature of participant's skin surface. The investigators will measure the temperature before and after the contact with desk surface. During those 20 minutes the participant will solve an attention test to assess the impact of different materials on attention. At the end, the participants will answer a questionnaire about the suitability of the material.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 16
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Slovenia
  • Izola, Slovenia, 6310
    • Faculty of Health Sciences

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 35 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• aged between 18 and 35

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• pain presence in any musculoskeletal part > 3 on 10-level scale

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Other
• Interventional Model: Crossover Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change of the skin temperature measured on forearm	Skin temperature in the forearm will be measured with Infrared thermal camera. Thermal camera is suitable for the measurements since it is a reliable tool for measuring skin temperature. The temperature is presented in Celsius degrees. Moreover, thermal camera provides a thermal picture indicating temperature distribution in the space.	at the beginning and after 20 minutes of using desk surface

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Attention test	The attention test will be performed on computer. On the computer screen letters P and R will appear. Each time the letter R appears the participant will have to click ''space''. If a letter P appears the participant should not react.	180 seconds
Adjusted Mood and feelings questionnaire	The questionnaire consists of two questions. One is asking the participant about their current mood. The second question is asking the participant about their current arousal. The participant answers both questions using a 9-level scale (1 meaning not at all and 9 meaning very much). There is no total value of the questionnaire. Also, higher or lower values do not represent better or worse outcome.	180 seconds

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Primorska
• Collaborators: Innorenew CoE

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 5, 2018
• Primary Completion (Actual): February 28, 2019
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2019

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 5, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): November 7, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 4, 2019
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 1, 2019
• Last Verified: November 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: thermal comfort; attention; ergonomics; desk surface
• Other Study ID Numbers: Thermal comfort

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No