Behavioral Effects of Infectious Diseases.
Abstract
The major area of this research is the experimental study of the effects of illness on sustained performance--performance measured with the use of a multiple-task performance battery (MTPB) in a synthetic (rather than simulated) work situation. The results of these experiments have indicated that the average decrement in performance efficiency during illness will be on the order of 27% to 34% with a severe febrile disease such as respiratory Pasteurella tularensis, or 18% to 25% with the less-serious, self-limiting Phlebotomus (Pappataci or Sandfly) fever. On the other hand, the typical decrement associated with Phlebotomus fever appears to be forestalled with use of symptomatic treatment (field-available dosages of aspirin and Darvon). The data of an additional uninfected, but treated control group were collected in May 1971, and are currently being analyzed. This research thus provides a basis for the behavioral assessment of the incapacitating effects of infectious diseases, and the enhancement of performance associated with symptomatic treatment of a viral infection. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1971
- Accession Number
- AD0729958
Entities
People
- Bill R. Brown
- Earl A. Alluisi
Organizations
- University of Louisville