Ability of deutan color defectives to perform simulated air traffic control tasks.

Air traffic controllers perform a variety of tasks which require them to identify, discriminate, and name colors. Qualification standards for this occupation require applicants and incumbents to have normal color vision. The validity of this standard has been questioned and is currently under review. In this study, 22 deutans and 78 normals were tested on a set of tasks which simulated critical tasks performed daily by air traffic controllers. The four tasks included discriminating red from black pencil marks on flight progress strips, color-naming of 1 degree and 0.1 degree discs, and identification of colored line segments embedded in a multicolored background. Deutans classified as mild were found to perform all tasks as well as normals. Moderate deutans performed only the large disc color-naming task as well as normals, whereas severe deutans performed none of the tasks as well as normals. Different methods for scoring the color vision tests were explored to determine their value as predictors of task performance. The D-15 relative error score was found to be the single best predictor of performance on the tasks (r-square = 0.602). It is concluded that mild deutan color defectives have adequate color vision for safe performance of several critical air traffic control tasks. Moderate and severe deutans do not. In addition, the results of several methods for scoring color vision tests can be used to predict group, but not individual, performance with high reliability.

The ability of protan color defectives to perform color-dependent air traffic control tasks.

Air traffic controllers perform a variety of tasks which require them to identify, discriminate and name colors. Qualification standards for this occupation require applicants to have normal color vision. Although the validity of this standard has been questioned, Adams and Tague recently presented evidence in this Journal (1985;62:744-50) that protanopes cannot perform color-dependent air traffic control tasks reliably. In our study, the results of 7 severe and 2 moderate protans are compared to those of 78 normals on a set of tasks which simulated critical tasks performed daily by air traffic controllers. The four tasks included discriminating red from black pencil marks on flight progress strips, color-naming of 1(0) and 0.1(0) discs, and identification of colored line segments embedded in a multi-colored background. The severe protans we tested performed none of the tasks as well as normals. While the performance of the moderate protans was better, statistical conclusions could not be drawn. Our set of tasks bears many similarities to the set used by Adams and Tague and it appears we were trying to answer the same questions. The results of the two studies are similar and the conclusions are the same: severe protans cannot perform color-dependent air traffic control tasks reliably.

Periodic reassessment for improved, cost-effective care in home total parenteral nutrition: a case report.

Home parenteral nutrition (HPN) patients need periodic reassessment for compliance, appropriateness of parenteral formulation, infusion regimen, bowel adaptation, and effective oral nutrient intake. Additionally, new technological advances need to be considered for potential use in the home parenteral nutrition population. Since costs for home parenteral nutrition therapy are substantial, cost-effective options should be exercised whenever reasonable. The following case illustrates our approach to the reassessment process, subsequent modifications, and resultant impact on the lifestyle, adequacy, and cost of home parenteral nutrition therapy.