Work Observation Method By Activity Timing (WOMBAT)
WOMBAT is a unique research technique and tool used to collect data when undertaking direct observational time and motion studies.
WOMBAT is developed by Professor Johanna Westbrook, Director of the Centre for Health Systems and Safety Research at the Australian Institute of Health Innovation (AIHI). While originally developed for research in the health domain, the technique and tool can be used in any field.
Using WOMBAT, trained observers can:
- capture multi-dimensional aspects of the activities being observed
- record all time data related to activities as they are taking place
- capture interruptions and multitasking (eg activities conducted in parallel).
Researchers around the world have published findings using WOMBAT and contributed to case studies.
About WOMBAT
WOMBAT was developed to provide a reliable method for investigating the ways in which health professionals work and communication patterns change following the introduction of clinical information systems in hospitals.
WOMBAT comprises:
- The app – enables the collection of data, which is stored on your iOS device until uploaded to the WOMBAT Web App.
- The web portal – where data collection templates are designed and uploaded study data is securely stored.
Find out more about the WOMBAT apps and licensing.
WOMBAT uniquely reflects the high level of complexity involved in clinical work. It advances existing observation methods, which failed to enable collection of multiple dimensions of work, interruptions and multitasking.
WOMBAT’s features include:
- continuous recording and automatic timestamping of data
- customisable data collection templates in any language
- offline data collection
- recording of:
- interruptions and their nature
- multiple dimensions of observed activities
- tasks conducted in parallel (multitasking)
- validated data collection templates.
Example applications include:
- examining:
- hospital ward nurses’ time in medication related tasks and interruptions during medication related tasks
- intensive care unit nurse workflow during shift change
- pharmacists’ workflow in community pharmacy
- work patterns and the use of electronic health records in ambulatory care
- medication management work processes of nurses in home healthcare
- assessing:
- hospital doctors’ and nurses’ patterns of work and communication and measuring the impact of health information technologies
- the rate of interruptions and multitasking by intensive care doctors and nurses
- interruptions and multitasking by doctors in emergency departments and their impact on prescribing errors
- hand hygiene in birth attendants
- quantifying:
- how and with whom doctors on hospital wards spend their time
- the work patterns of doctors in intensive care units
- work and interruptions experienced by nuclear medicine technologists
- junior doctors’ work practices after hours and on weekends
- renal dietitians’ time
- investigating work patterns, interruptions and multitasking in surgical wards
- measuring the work patterns of hospital pharmacists’ and the impact of electronic medication management systems
- evaluating the impact of a drug monitoring system on nurses’ work in ambulatory care.
Researchers can also elect to use validated data collection templates to facilitate comparison of findings with previously published data. We suggest that, where possible, you consider using existing definitions of work tasks which will allow you to compare your findings with those from other WOMBAT studies.
WOMBAT also provides the opportunity to undertake multi-site and cross-country studies.
WOMBAT 1.0
Developed in 2006, WOMBAT 1.0 allowed trained observers to shadow individuals and record four fixed dimensions of work activities:
- what task
- with whom
- where
- how.
Each task was automatically timestamped. Instances of multitasking and interruptions could also be recorded. The software was developed for Windows PDA (HP iPAQ running Windows Mobile).
WOMBAT 2.0
WOMBAT was redesigned in 2011 with the aim of allowing the tool to be used by research teams across the world. WOMBAT 2.0:
- provided researchers the flexibility to create custom data collection templates that could include the original four dimensions or different/additional dimensions and variables
- allowed interruptions and multitasking to be recorded and examined in greater detail.
The new functionality increased the range of research questions that could be addressed with WOMBAT data, and expanded its application beyond health care.
WOMBAT 2.0 was developed for devices running an Android operating system (4.0 and above).
WOMBAT 3.0
In 2019, WOMBAT underwent redevelopment to improve the user interface and usability and expand its functionality. WOMBAT 3.0 has been designed for use on devices running the Apple operating system (iOS) including iPad, iPad mini and iPhone. The WOMBAT App is freely available on the App Store and includes a Lite Version, which allows users to explore:
- how WOMBAT works
- how data are collected using WOMBAT
- what collected WOMBAT data looks like
- examples of measures for analysis.
WOMBAT 3.0 allows researchers to include a free text field in their data collection templates, further increasing the capacity to examine and answer different research questions.
Sponsors
- ARC Discovery Projects
- NHMRC Program Grant
- Macquarie University Research Infrastructure Scheme