Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries

Background:

This study is one of several initiated by the investigators to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in patient care providers. Nurses have one of the highest incidences of work related back injuries of any profession. Over the past 20 years, efforts to reduce work-related injuries in nursing have been largely unsuccessful.

Objectives:

The goal of this study is to reduce the incidence and severity of occupational musculoskeletal injuries in nursing through the redesign of stressful patient handling tasks. This study addresses three objectives: 1) conduct a quantitative, biomechanically based, ergonomic evaluation of the eleven "at risk" tasks in nursing practice; 2) redesign the techniques or equipment needed to perform these tasks safely or with reduced risk of musculoskeletal injury; and 3) conduct laboratory- based assessment of the biomechanical benefit of the proposed intervention strategies.

Methods:

Using a randomized experimental design with a control group, ten "at risk" tasks will be evaluated. The sample included 160 experienced nursing staff. Data were collected using: 1) Caregiver Data Form and Anthropometry Data Sheet; 2) 3-D Electromagnetic Tracking System; 3) EMG; and 4) modified Borg Scale for Perceived Comfort. Include: caregiver characteristics, joint torque, spinal forces, spinal tolerance limit and damage load limit, erector spinae surface EMG, joint angles, percent of population capable of performing each task by gender, velocity of lift, reach, heart rate, and perceived comfort.

Status:

This project is complete.

Inclusion criteria

Subjects included RNs, LPNs, and Nas with a minimum of 6 months experience and a job description that included a minimum of 80% direct patient care responsibilities. Subjects were required to be injury free for at least one year, as evidenced by a brief orthopedic examination and interview. The orthopedic evaluation included an examination of posture, gait, range of motion, sensory deficits, muscle exam, and straight leg raise. We excluded subjects with self-report of injury or any positive finding of back musculoskeletal disorders within the past 12 months.

Exclusion criteria