Ergonomics and Computational Human Operations (ECHO) Lab

Publications

Google Scholar Profile

Selected Publications and Presentations

  1. Chen, X., Wang, T. N., Sarin, A., Patel, A., Ali, A., Samreen, S., Cha, J., & Stefanidis, D. (2025). Robotic vs. laparoscopic surgery at the operational level: An investigation of surgeons’ perspectives. Surgical Endoscopy. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-025-12152-y
  2. Ball, M., Fuller, P., Goodwin, C., Anton, N., Athanasiadis, D. I., Hernandez, E., Stefanidis, D., Yu, D., & Cha, J. S. (2025). Objective and Subjective Evaluation of Non-Technical Skills and Technical Leadership Skills During Simulated Critical Care Scenarios. IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 0(0), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2025.2551536
  3. Cha, J. S., Fuller, P., Ball, M., Samreen, S., Sylla, P., Stefanidis, D., & The SAGES Robotic Committee. (2025). SAGES tool for assessing robotic surgery systems (STARSS). Surgical Endoscopy, 39(9), 5479–5491. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-025-11897-w
  4. Liu, H., Luo, Q., Carbonell, A. M., Love, W., & Cha, J. (2025). Treatment effect estimation via optimization in robotic-assisted surgery: Insights from the Southeastern U.S. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 15(3), 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/24725579.2025.2538013
  5. Barbieri, D. F., Srinivasan, D., Ulrich, J., Ranganathan, S., Chang, C., Gerac, J. A., & Cha, J. S. (2025). Systems-based framework for clinical decision-support system integration for patient sepsis management: A theoretical application of the SEIPS model. Human Factors in Healthcare, 7, 100098. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hfh.2025.100098
  6. Ball, M., Fuller, P., & Cha, J. S. (2025). Identification of surgical human-robot interactions and measures during robotic-assisted surgery: A scoping review. Applied Ergonomics, 125, 104478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104478
  7. Gonzales, A., Jackson, C., & Cha, J. (2025). Extended reality as a modality to train non-technical skills in healthcare: A scoping review. Applied Ergonomics, 125, 104463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104463
  8. Kennedy, S., Fuller, P., Cha, J. S., Carbonell, A. M., Luo, Q., & Joseph, A. (2025). Exploring the Impact of the Physical Environment on Robotic-Assisted Surgery Outcomes and Processes: A Scoping Review. Human Factors, 67(10), 1011-1045. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208251333907
  9. West, J., Singh, C.*, Cha, J., & Li, D. (2025). s-DResNet: an adversarial domain residual adaptation network for mental workload detection in robotic assisted surgeries. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 1-11. https://doi-org/10.1080/24725579.2025.2492555
  10. Lim, C., Obuseh, M., Cha, J., Steward, J., Sundaram, C., & Yu, D. (2025). Neural insights on expert surgeons’ mental workload during live robotic surgeries. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 12073. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96064-w
  11. Ball, M.*, Fuller, P.*, & Cha, J. S. (2025). Identification of surgical human-robot interactions and measures during robotic-assisted surgery: A scoping review. Applied Ergonomics, 125, 104478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2025.104478
  12. Fuller, P.*, Gainey, M. *, Ball, M. *, Kennedy, S., Duffie, H. *, Luo, Q., Joseph, A., Carbonell, A., & Cha, J. S. Understanding the challenges of robotic-assisted surgery adoption: Perspectives from stakeholders and the general population on human-interaction, built environment, and training. Applied Ergonomics, 122, 104403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104403
  13. Gonzales, A.*, Lin, J. H., & Cha, J. S. (2024). A year-long case study of multicomponent interventions to promote physical activity in office workers: A randomized control trial. Applied Ergonomics, 120, 104333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104333
  14. Gonzales, A.*, Lin, J. H., & Cha, J. S. (2024). A year-long case study of multicomponent interventions to promote physical activity in office workers: A randomized control trial. Applied Ergonomics, 120, 104333. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104333
  15. Mihandoust, S., Joseph, A., Browning, M. H., Cha, J. S., Gonzales, A.*, & Markowitz, J. (2024). Can pre-visit exposure to virtual tours of healthcare facilities help reduce child and parent anxiety during outpatient surgical procedures?. Applied Ergonomics, 119, 104308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2024.104308
  16. Cha, J. S., Athanasiadis, D. I., Asadi, H., Stefanidis, D., Nussbaum, M. A., & Yu, D. (2024). Evaluation of a passive arm-support exoskeleton for surgical team members: Results from live surgeries. Journal of Safety Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.02.003
  17. Gonzales, A.*, Barbieri, D. F., Carbonell, A. M., Joseph, A., Srinivasan, D., & Cha, J. (2024). The compatibility of exoskeletons in perioperative environments and workflows: an analysis of surgical team members’ perspectives and workflow simulation. Ergonomics, 67(5), 674-694. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139.2023.2240045
  18. Cha, J. S., Athanasiadis, D. I., Peng, Y., Wu, D., Anton, N. E., Stefanidis, D., & Yu, D. (2024). Objective nontechnical skills measurement using sensor-based behavior metrics in surgical teams. Human Factors, 66(3), 729-743. https://doi.org/10.1177/00187208221101292
  19. Dong, M., Lee, Y., Cha, J. S., Huang, G. (2024) Drinking and Driving: A Systematic Review of the Impacts of Alcohol Consumption on Manual and Automated Driving Performance. Journal of Safety Research, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsr.2024.01.006
  20. Raghuraman, R. N., Upasani, S., Gonzales, A.*, Aviles, J., Cha, J., & Srinivasan, D. (2023). Manufacturing Industry Stakeholder Perspectives on Occupational Exoskeletons: Changes After a Brief Exposure to Exoskeletons. IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1080/24725838.2023.2262480
  21. Anton, N. E., Cha, J. S., Hernandez, E., Athanasiadis, D. I., Yang, J., Zhou, G., Stefanidis, D., & Yu, D. (2023). Utilizing eye tracking to assess medical student non-technical performance during scenario-based simulation: results of a pilot study. Global Surgical Education-Journal of the Association for Surgical Education, 2(1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44186-023-00127-3
  22. Cha, J. S., Ausri, F., Mudge, L., & Yu, D. (2022). Effectiveness of smart wrist wearables for distinguishing physical and cognitive demands. IISE Transactions on Healthcare Systems Engineering, 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1080/24725579.2022.2142867
  23. Gonzales, A.*, Lin, J. H., & Cha, J. S. (2022). Physical activity changes among office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown and the agreement between objective and subjective physical activity metrics. Applied Ergonomics, 105, 103845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2022.103845
  24. Cha, J. S., & Yu, D. (2022). Objective Measures of Surgeon Non-Technical Skills in Surgery: A Scoping Review. Human Factors, 64(1), 42-73. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720821995319
  25. Cha, J. S., Athanasiadis, D., Anton, N. E., Stefanidis, D., & Yu, D. (2021). Measurement of Nontechnical Skills During Robotic-Assisted Surgery Using Sensor-Based Communication and Proximity Metrics. JAMA Network Open, 4(11), e2132209-e2132209. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.32209
  26. Anton, N.E., Huffman, E.M., Ahmed, R.A., Cooper, D.D., Athanasiadis, D.I., Cha, J., Stefanidis, D. and Lee, N.K., 2021. Stress and resident interdisciplinary team performance: Results of a pilot trauma simulation program. Surgery, 170(4), pp.1074-1079. (2021). Stress and resident interdisciplinary team performance: Results of a pilot trauma simulation program. Surgery, 170(4), 1074-1079. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.surg.2021.03.010
  27. Anton, N. E., Whiteside, J. A., Cha, J., Perkins, L. A., Martin, M., & Stefanidis, D. (2021). Characterizing robotic surgical expertise: An exploratory study of neural activation during mental imagery of robotic suturing. The American Journal of Surgery, 222(6), 1131-1138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.02.002
  28. Anton, N. E., Athanasiadis, D. I., Karipidis, T., Keen, A. Y., Karim, A., Cha, J., … & Stefanidis, D. (2021). Surgeon stress negatively affects their non-technical skills in the operating room. The American Journal of Surgery, 222(6), 1154-1157. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2021.01.035
  29. Wu, C., Cha, J., Sulek, J., Sundaram, C. P., Wachs, J., Proctor, R. W., & Yu, D. (2021). Sensor-based indicators of performance changes between sessions during robotic surgery training. Applied Ergonomics, 90, 103251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2020.103251
  30. Cha, J. S., Monfared, S., Stefanidis, D., Nussbaum, M. A., & Yu, D. (2020). Supporting surgical teams: Identifying needs and barriers for exoskeleton implementation in the operating room. Human Factors, 62(3), 377-390. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720819879271
  31. Wu, C., Cha, J., Sulek, J., Zhou, T., Sundaram, C. P., Wachs, J., & Yu, D. (2020). Eye-tracking metrics predict perceived workload in robotic surgical skills training. Human Factors, 62(8), 1365-1386. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720819874544
  32. Zhou, T., Cha, J. S., Gonzalez, G., Wachs, J. P., Sundaram, C. P., & Yu, D. (2020). Multimodal physiological signals for workload prediction in robot-assisted surgery. ACM Transactions on Human-Robot Interaction (THRI), 9(2), 1-26. https://doi.org/10.1145/3368589
  33. Peng, Y., Anton, N. E., Cha, J., Mizota, T., Hennings, J. M., Stambro, R., … & Yu, D. (2019). Objective measures of communication behavior predict clinical performance. Journal of Surgical Education, 76(5), 1337-1347. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsurg.2019.03.017
  34. Cha, J. S., Anton, N. E., Mizota, T., Hennings, J. M., Rendina, M. A., Stanton-Maxey, K., … & Yu, D. (2019). Use of non-technical skills can predict medical student performance in acute care simulated scenarios. The American Journal of Surgery, 217(2), 323-328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2018.09.028
  35. Yu, D., Cha, J. S., Kasten, S. J., Green, C., & Armstrong, T. J. (2015). Design of low-cost ergonomic microsurgery equipment: comparison of microscope and 3D video displays on task performance. Journal of Medical Devices, 9(2). https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4030130