ONE-SIZE-FITS-ALL ERGONOMIC CULTURE, THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND HEALTH INFORMATION LITERACY IMPERATIVE

Abstract

This study investigated the ergonomic consciousness of undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka in the face of the one-size-fits-all ergonomic culture dominant in our learning environments. The study intended the following: (i) to investigate the extent to which these undergraduates are conscious of the ergonomic shortcomings of their learning environment; (ii) to understand how knowledgeable they are about the health implications of these possible ergonomic shortcomings; (iii) to find out the extent they apply necessary measures towards containing these shortcomings. The study was designed as a survey and its population was the undergraduate students of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, numbering 34, 650. A sample of 400 was chosen from this population. After the analysis of the data collected via questionnaire, it was found that the majority of UNIZIK undergraduate students are conscious of the ergonomic shortcomings of their learning environment; that the undergraduate students are considerably informed about the health implications of the possible ergonomic shortcomings of their learning environment; and that a moderate proportion of the students apply measures to deal with these ergonomic shortcomings. The study concluded that ergonomic consciousness is actually different from taking positive ergonomic actions; that while one may be conscious of such ergonomic shortcomings, acting positively towards them is a different thing entirely.