Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39388886›Full record

ArticleApplied ergonomics2025

Active back exosuits demonstrate positive usability perceptions that drive intention-to-use in the field among logistic warehouse workers.

Adam Hess, Jesse V Jacobs, Sarah Sullivan, Dionna O Roberts Williams, Lou N Awad, Diane Dalton, Conor J Walsh, D Adam Quirk

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Applied ergonomics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Adam HessSchool of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Jesse V JacobsRisk Control Services, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Boston, MA, USA.
Sarah SullivanWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Dionna O Roberts WilliamsWyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Lou N AwadSargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Diane DaltonSargent College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
Conor J WalshSchool of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA. Electronic address: walsh@seas.harvard.edu.
D Adam QuirkSchool of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.

Funding

Development, Evaluation and Translation of Robotic Apparel for Alleviating Low Back PainUH3AR076731 · NIAMS · HARVARD UNIVERSITY · PI WALSH, CONOR · 2021 to 2021
$2.1M
NIAMS NIH HHS UH3 AR076731
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Back exosuits offer the potential to reduce occupational back injuries but require in-field acceptance and use to realize this potential. For this study, 146 employees trialed an active back exosuit in the field for 4 h, completing an acceptance usability survey. Comparing the 80% of employees willing to continue wearing this device (N = 117) to those who were not (N = 29) revealed that employees willing to wear this device for a longer-term study generally were more likely to perceive this back exosuit to be effective (helpful) and compatible (minimally disruptive) to their everyday work. Using an optimal tree approach, we demonstrate that intent-to-use could be predicted with 78% accuracy by interacting features of perceived exosuit effectiveness and work compatibility. This study reinforces the importance of task matching, noticeable relief, and unobtrusive design to facilitate short-term employee acceptance of industrial wearable robotic technology.

Indexed as

IntentionOccupational InjuriesAdultBack InjuriesErgonomicsExoskeleton DeviceFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedOccupational DiseasesPerceptionSurveys and QuestionnairesWearable Electronic DevicesAcceptanceActive exoskeletonsBack exoskeletonsHuman factorsHuman-machine-interactionsOccupational exoskeletonsWork-related musculoskeletal disorders

Identifiers

PMID39388886
PMCPMC11608431

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceTDM
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.