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Dr. Samuel Cromie

Associate Professor (Psychology)
ARAS AN PHIARSAIGH
      
Profile Photo

Dr. Samuel Cromie

Associate Professor (Psychology)
ARAS AN PHIARSAIGH

 sdcromie@tcd.ie

 3531896 2426


  Aerospace psychology   Air Safety   Air Transportation   AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE ORGANISATIONS   Applied Psychology   Behavioral Science Education   Behavioral/Experimental Psychology   CLIMATE   Computer-Aided Instruction   Control theory of human accident causation   Cultural/Social Anthropology   Culture and health   Culture, systems and development   Education and Work   Education, Organizational Theory & Behavior   Educational Evaluation/Assessment   Educational Psychology   Educational Testing/Measurement   Educational/Instructional Technology   E-Learning   Engineering Psychology   Human Learning and Memory   Industrial Psychology   Information technology in education   Innovation in learning   Learning Motivation   Operations management   Organisation design, development, theory, behaviour   Organizational Theory and Behavior   Psychology   Road/Highway Safety   SAFETY CULTURE   SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS   Safety, reliabaility and innovation, organisational cultures   Transportation   Virtual learning environments   Work Motivation
Project Title
 Developing a multi-faceted approach to reducing and mitigating the risk of foreign object retention
From
December 2016
To
December 2018
Summary
Over 1,000 Irish FOR incidents between 2011 and 2015 represent unnecessary suffering patients, reputational cost/damage to the healthcare service, institution and clinician and financial cost in claims and rework. FOR is an intractable human factors problem because removing materials after a task is not integrated into the natural task sequence, thus more susceptible to a "lapse" error. While the problem traverses tasks and industries the challenges can be specific to the sector, organisation, team, task and object. Generic risk controls need to be tailored to the specific context. Healthcare-specific human factors may be the hierarchical structure of medical/surgical teams, interdisciplinary communication, the culture around "speaking up" and the training history in a "conservative profession". The objective of this research project will be to integrate the best of existing methods into a foreign object management process and an implementation roadmap. The foreign object management process is a generic process which can be customised for application to diverse contexts. The implementation roadmap is a framework for introducing, customising and embedding the process in a hospital, including stakeholder identification and engagement, training, resourcing and continuous improvement. Two pilot hospitals have been chosen to analyse surgical and obstetric services. Two groups of stakeholders from the pilot hospitals will be identified and engaged with throughout the project - process stakeholders (surgeons, obstetricians, theatre nurses, midwives) and system stakeholders (hospital administrators, educators, device manufacturers, risk managers, patient representatives, indemnifiers, regulators). The project brings together an experienced multi-disciplinary team from human factors, psychology, risk & change management, surgery, obstetrics /gynaecology, nursing/midwifery. Human factors and risk management tools - process modelling, bowtie, stakeholder analysis - will be applied to analyse the challenges and develop the most effective solutions. The project team includes stakeholders in key positions in the health services to enable effective execution, dissemination and uptake of the projects results.
Funding Agency
Health Research Board
Programme
Research Collaborative in Quality and Patient Safety)
Project Title
 The social and psychological mechanisms and outcomes of self-help groups in Ethiopia
From
November 2016
To
May 2017
Summary
A number of studies have confirmed that the Self Help Group (SHG) approach brings about various levels of change and empowerment while accumulating financial capital, as well as being cost-effective. Tearfund's underlying theory of change asserts that relationships and social capital are key towards achieving this. However studies conducted so far have touched on this, yet not researched this mechanism in depths from a psychological perspective. Emphasis has been largely on tangible benefits, though a psychological lens is believed to reveal intangible mechanisms and benefits. It is anticipated that a better understanding of the role of relationships and social capital in the SHGs will further improve the quality of the implementation if the Self Help Group approach. This research aims to: . Evaluate the impact of SHGs on the social, psychological and spiritual wellbeing of their members . Elucidate the features SHGs which promote, and those that may hamper, achieving this impact . Elaborate and adjust the Tearfund theory of change for SHG The study comprises mixed methods study of ten SHGs. The SHGs were chosen deliberately to include: . Five young ( less than 2 years) and five older ( more than 5 years) SHGs . High (5), Medium (4) and Low (1) functioning SHGs . SHGs from two regions - Oromiya and Wolaita Four data collection methods are being used in the study Surveys of the SHG members, including: o Demographic data o Self-evaluations of current status and changes since joining the SHG in finances, health, education, and wellbeing o Standardised scales of key psycho-social and spiritual dimensions o Team evaluation items In-depth focus groups with the SHGs focussed on elaborating their understanding of how the SHGs work, how they influence change in their members' lives and what the key mechanisms are Profiling of SHGs using a structured interview with key informants and reference to data gathered by Tearfund or its partners: o Date of formation, location, ethnic and religious composition, etc. o Local socio-political and economic context o Any significant events in the history of the SHG - internal conflicts, members leaving, drought challenges Semi-structured observations of the focus groups to gather data on non-verbal behaviours and team interactions
Funding Agency
BuZa/Tear, and co-funded by Tearfund and Tearfund Ireland
Project Title
 Innovation through Human Factors in risk analysis and management (InnHF)
From
Nov 2011
To
Oct 2015
Summary
The INNHF main objective is to formalize an approach and make it possible to integrate the current and developing assessment methods recommended or required by recognized industrial standards and methodologies, with an easy to use but complete human factors and system health management approach, the following goals will be achieved: 1) Review of the applicability of most the recent generation of standards that are not yet fully acquired by different industries and verification of their effectiveness in safety assessment. 2) Devising a method to account qualitatively and quantitatively for the human factor in the wider applied risk assessment methodologies. Verifying how a proper account of the impact of human and organizational factors (H&OF) in the operational phase may provide a sensitive change in the results of the assessments. 3) Reviewing the methods to account qualitatively and quantitatively for maintenance effectiveness, also taking into account HOFs, verifying how a proper account of the maintenance strategy may provide a sensitive change in the results of the assessments. 4) To translate the results of the analysis performed through the novel approach in a factual design improvement initiative for new or existing plant or machinery able to provide leverage for competitive advantage (maximum availability, minimum unscheduled shutdowns of production, economic maintenance, minimum incident and accident). 5) The final objective of the project will be the development of a training program aimed at covering all the technical areas of expertise necessary to successfully carry out the case studies objectives. This training program will be initially rolled out internally to provide new researcher with a set of innovative skills to maximize the employment prospects for new researchers in large and/or SM enterprises. Further the training materials and content developed will also be offered to the wider community of the relevant industrial domains for the purpose of testing and dissemination.
Funding Agency
EU FP7
Programme
Marie Curie
Project Type
Initial training network
Project Title
 ManuVar
From
2009
To
2011
Summary
Through the use of virtual and augmented reality technology (VR / AR), the ManuVAR project will demonstrate that high value, high knowledge manual work presents an opportunity to improve the competitiveness of EU industries. ManuVar ( http://www.manuvar.eu/ ) is a European comprises 18 partner organisations across 8 countries.
Funding Agency
EC
Programme
FP7-NMP
Project Type
Integrated Project
Project Title
 STAMINA-BPM
From
2009
To
2011
Summary
Developing Human Factors training tailored to the Bio-Pharma-Medica industry.
Funding Agency
EC
Programme
Leonardo Da Vinci
Project Type
Transfer of Innovation

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Details Date
PhD External examiner for Avondale University 2024
Advisor to the Irish Air Corps on their implementation of human factors training. The role was to propose an integrated training concept for maintenance, flight crew, and air traffic management. 2023
Member of Water for Cameroon Ireland (WFCI) Working Group. This is a group that meets muti-annually to advise the Projects Manager on strategy, governance and ethics. WFCI is a charity that support sustainable community-led water projects in Cameroon. 2017
Details Date From Date To
Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Ergonomics and Human Factors 2016 Date
Safety in Health Systems Group - Ireland 2014 Date
EQUIPS: The Evidence-Based QUality Improvement and Patient Safety Research Network for Ireland 2024 2024
Q Community. A community of people across the UK and Ireland, collaborating to improve the safety and quality of health and care. 2024 2024
Irish Human Factors and Ergonomics Society 2017 Date
CIEHF Human Factors in Pharma Interest Group 2017 Date
European Aviation Maintenance Training Committee - Invited Member 2004 2011
Joint Aviation Authority Maintenance Human Factors Subcommittee 2002 2004
Psychological Society of Ireland 1987 1998
Siobhan McCarthy, Jill Poots, John McCaffrey, Emily O'Dowd, Anna V. Chatzi, Killian Walsh, Jennifer A. Pallin, Clíodhna McGowan, Tommy Kyaw Tun, John Brennan, Sam Cromie, Edward W. Gregg, Profiling and Mapping Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Research Frameworks: Protocol for a Scoping Review to Guide Integration, HRB Open Research, 8, 2026, p92 - 92, p92-92 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Bilal Alam Khan, Rory Coyne, Michael Gormley, Maria Chiara Leva, Sam Cromie, Estimating mental workload in executive function-based tasks, Cognition Technology & Work, 2026, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Hackett L, D'Arcy DM, O'Connell J, Cromie S, Daly D, Grimes T, What barriers and facilitators to self-management are experienced by mothers who wish to breastfeed but require concurrent pharmacotherapy in the first two years postpartum? A mixed-methods systematic review protocol., HRB Open, 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL
Simon Nantamu, Adele Grazi, Sam Cromie, Testing turnover intentions and organizational justice on servant leadership: a validation of the servant leadership survey scale in sub-Saharan Africa, Leadership in health services, 38, (5), 2025, p16 - 34, p16-34 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Cromie, S., Kay, A., O"Byrne, K., Traynor, T.,, Smyth, D., O"Connor, P., Slattery, D., Duda, N., Corrigan, S, Safety Culture and Human Factors in Foreign Object Management in Surgery, Healthcare, 13, (17), 2025, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  URL
Siobhan McCarthy, Jill Poots, John McCaffrey, Emily O"Dowd, Anna V. Chatzi, Killian Walsh, Jennifer A. Pallin, Clíodhna McGowan, Tommy Kyaw Tun, John Brennan, Sam Cromie, Edward W. Gregg, Development of a Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Research Conceptual Framework to Inform Research Priorities for the Irish Healthcare System: Protocol for a Scoping Review, HRB Open Research, 8, 2025, p92 - 92, p92-92 , Review Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Bojana Bjegojevi", Miloš Pušica, Gabriele Gianini, Ivan Gligorijevi", Sam Cromie, Maria Chiara Leva, Neuroergonomic Attention Assessment in Safety-Critical Tasks: EEG Indices and Subjective Metrics Validation in a Novel Task-Embedded Reaction Time Paradigm, Brain Sciences, 14, (10), 2024, p1009 - 1009, p1009-1009 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
Eduard Negoescu, Romaric Marcilly, Samuel Cromie, Aaron Koay, Tamasine Grimes, The medication self-management work system of patients and informal carers from a human factors & ergonomics perspective: A scoping review protocol., HRB Open Research, 6, (4), 2023, Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI  URL  URL
Bojana Bjegojevic, Maria Chiara Leva, Sam Cromie, Nora Balfe, Physiological Indicators for Real-Time Detection of Operator"s Attention, 32nd European Safety and Reliability Conference (ESREL 2022), Dublin, 2022, edited by Maria Chiara Leva, Edoardo Patelli, Luca Podofillini, and Simon Wilson , Research Publishing, Singapore., 2022, pp3309 - 3316, Conference Paper, PUBLISHED  TARA - Full Text  DOI
AlMutairi, M., Redmond, P., Cromie, S., Grimes T., Household medicine disposal and waste management in Ireland, the need for a systems-based approach. , Irish Journal of Medical Sciences, 2022, phttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11845 , Journal Article, PUBLISHED  DOI
  

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Sam Cromie, Mengistie Rebsso, Kate Dagher, Psycho-social outcomes and mechanisms of self-help groups in Ethiopia from 2016 to 2022. Report to Tearfund Ireland., Trinity College Dublin, February, 2024, Notes: [Relevant to public policy regarding development funding], Report, PUBLISHED
Sam Cromie, Alison Kay, Natalie Duda, Siobhan Corrigan, Dubhfeasa Slattery, Paul O'Connor, Deliverable 5: Dissemination -Ensuring impact in healthcare and academia. Report to the HRB., 2023, Report, PUBLISHED
Alison Kay, Sam Cromie, Katie O'Byrne, Siobhan Corrigan, Dubhfeasa Slattery, Paul O'Connor, Deliverable 4: Evaluation report of the pilot implementation of new foreign object management processes in two Irish Hospitals. Report to the HRB., 2023, Report, PUBLISHED
Alison Kay Sam Cromie, Katie O"Byrne, Siobhán Corrigan, Dubhfeasa Slattery, Paul O"Connor, Deliverable 2: A study of foreign object management in surgical and obstetric procedures in two Irish hospitals. Report to the HRB., May 2022, 2022, Report, APPROVED
Alison Kay, Sam Cromie, Katie O'Byrne, Siobhan Corrigan, Dubhfeasa Slattery, Paul O'Connor, Deliverable 3: Foreign Object Management Toolkits for Surgery, Midwifery and Obstetrics in two Irish hospitals. Report to the HRB., November 2022, 2022, Report, PUBLISHED
Sam Cromie Michael Gormley Katie Crowley Joan Cahill Nora Balfe Ciaran Doyle Ann Hever Christine McGarrigle Eamonn Kenny Sonja Herman Robert Ross Declan McKibben, Older Driver Condition Monitoring: Objectives & Priorities, 2018, Report, PUBLISHED
Psycho-social outcomes and mechanisms of self-help groups in Ethiopia. Report to Tearfund Ireland, Sam Cromie, Hannah Quinn-Gates, Paul Fagan, Mengistie Rebsso, July, 2017, Notes: [Evaluates the psycho-social outcomes and mechanisms of self-help groups in Ethiopia thus informing policy on the directing of public funds towards the support of self-help groups.], Report, PUBLISHED
Sam Cromie, Katie O'Byrne, Alison Kay, Siobhan Corrigan, Dubhfeasa Slattery, Paul O'Connor, Foreign Object Management in Irish Healthcare with Specific Reference to Surgery and Obstetrics. Report to the HRB., October 2017, 2017, p1 - 58, Report, APPROVED
Sam Cromie, Evangelos Demosthenous, Derval Cromie, 'Supersonic Aviation Videos', Dublin, Trinity Stamina Ltd, 2013, -, Film production, PRODUCED
Sam Cromie, Trinity Stamina Ltd, 2011, Campus Company, ACCEPTED

  


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Most organisational systems operate with simplistic notions of how humans interact with equipment, procedures, organisational rules and culture. Aviation pioneered prioritising the human factors (HF) evidence-base design and operations. My research strength - across" is extending and promoting this evidence-base across a diverse research portfolio of topics/sectors - e.g., culpability judgements, foreign object retention (FOR) in healthcare, sustainable travel and self-help group (SHG) impact. "Just Culture" (JC) policy promotes fair treatment of staff involved in incidents; but it lacks foundation in empirical data and theory. My culpability decision making research generates this scientific foundation, influencing JC implementation in aviation, healthcare and rail. FOR is a persistent healthcare problem despite decades of attention. My research elucidates the human and cultural factors underlying failure of current procedures, highlighting how to enhance them. Reducing medication-related harm is a HSE strategic priority. My School of Pharmacy collaboration elucidates the HF of medication management in key contexts such as transitions of care. Promoting sustainable travel relies largely on guilt or crude financial incentives. My collaboration with School of Engineering & ADAPT applies behaviour change models developing nuanced evidence-based strategies. SHGs are effective in combating poverty in the global south. My research elucidates psychosocial impacts and what makes these groups effective, leading to a refined SHG model. I am proud of the role I have played, along with my Centre for Innovative Human Systems (CIHS) colleagues, in building a strong model of real-world human factors research. This is yielding substantial funding (€5m+ personally - EU, HRB, SFI and Industry; €1m+ annually for CIHS) that give us a leadership national role in patient safety and traffic medicine research. My research has significant social (policy & practice across sectors) and academic impact (40+ peer-reviewed papers including high impact international journals, e.g. Safety Science, 4.7 Impact Factor).