A Combined Macroergonomics & Public Health Approach to Injury Prevention: Two Years Later

Abstract

One reason for implementing a macroergonomic approach is the belief that it will yield improvements sustained over time. Between January 2000 and June 2001, an injury prevention program was implemented with U.S. Army students attending Advanced Individual Training (AIT) as Combat Medics. The highly successful original intervention included a general (2000) and a targeted (2001) program that reduced clinic visits for musculoskeletal complaints and decreased limited duty days. Two and a half years later, there is a continued decline in new profiles (limited duty assignments) among women (6.9% in 2000, 5.6% in 2001, and 3.1% per week in 2003), and slightly higher, but still low, new profiles for men (3.2% in 2000, 1.4 in 2001, and 2.5% per week in 2003). In addition, fewer soldiers are held over in AIT due to training related injuries (3% vs. < 1%). Although many factors can influence changes over time, AIT leadership and the authors believe the two most significant factors are the standard physical training program and the accountability process.