The decision to randomly assign intervention
to cell as opposed to participant was to avoid crosscontamination
of groups, thereby reducing the chance of
misclassification. In addition, members of the research team
believed that they could facilitate learning, participation, and
peer support with members of one cell proceeding through
the training together. Cell members were not specifically
instructed not to discuss the intervention with the other cells.
The members of the cells had different lunch and break
times, which restricted their contact; of course, the employees
knew each other and could have communicated.
The control group, Group 1, did not receive any intervention;
however, the group members completed both the
Laboratory Assessment Checklist and the Employee Comfort
Survey. No education or feedback regarding the assessments
or how the workers appeared at their workstations was given
to these participants. Group 2 received the same assessments,
in addition to an educational handout; however, neither the
education nor the results of the assessments were discussed.