An education and training program comprising 1) patient transfer technique, 2) physical fitness exercise, and 3) stress management was conducted during 3 consecutive years at a Swedish hospital. The present study was based on data from four sets of questionnaires, distributed to 348 female nursing personnel who participated in the entire program. The aim of the study was to evaluate the program. It was evident from the questionnaires that 90% of the subjects were positive about participating in the program and 88% expected that participation would lead to decreased musculoskeletal disorders. However, no decrease in the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms during the study time period was observed. One year after the cessation of the program, 93% of all nurses reported they mostly or always used the new patient transfer technique and 99% considered it to be useful.
References
1.
AuthierM., & LortieM. (1993). Assessment of factors considered to be important in handling tasks by expert handlers. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 11, 331–340.
2.
BorgG. (1990). Psychosocial scaling with applications in physical work and perception of exertion. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 16(Suppl. 1), 55–58.
3.
CatoC.OlsonD., & StuderM. (1989). Incidence, prevalence, and variables associated with low back pain in staff nurses. AAOHN Journal, 37(8), 321–327.
Estryn-BeharM.KaminskiM.PeigneE.MaillardM.PelletierA.BerthierC.DelaporteK.PaoliM., & LerouxJ. (1990). Strenuous working conditions and musculoskeletal disorders among female hospital workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 62, 47–57.
6.
FeldsteinA.ValanisB.StevensW., & OvertonC. (1993). The back injury prevention project pilot study. Assessing the effectiveness of back attack, and injury prevention program among nurses, aides, and orderlies. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 35(2), 114–119.
7.
GargA., & OwenB. (1992). Reducing back stress to nursing personnel: An ergonomic intervention in a nursing home. Ergonomics, 35(11), 1353–1375.
8.
GoldenharL., & SchulteP. (1994). Intervention research in occupational health and safety. Journal of Occupational Medicine, 37(7), 763–775.
9.
GundewallB.LiljeqvistM., & HanssonT. (1993). Primary prevention of back symptoms and absence from work. Spine, 18(5), 587–594.
10.
JohnsonC., & WestinM. (1994). The Stockholm Training Concept, workmodel for patient transfer. In HagbergM.WestlanderG. (Eds.). Pro Health Care—2nd International Conference on Occupational Health Care Workers (p. 65). Stockholm, June 2–29.
11.
KemmlertK.Örelius-DallnerM.KilbomÅ, & GamberaleF. (1993). A three-year follow up of 195 reported occupational overexertion injuries. Scandinavian Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 25, 16–24.
12.
KerrJ., & VosM. (1993). Employee fitness programmes, absenteeism and general well-being. Work & Stress, 7(2), 179–190.
13.
KuorinkaI.JonssonB.KilbomÅ.VinterbergH.Biering-SörensenF., & AnderssonG. (1987). Standardised Nordic Questionnaires for the analysis of musculoskeletal symptoms. Applied Ergonomics, 18(3), 233–237.
14.
LagerströmM.WenemarkM.HagbergM., & HjelmWigaeus E. (1995). Occupational and individual factors related to musculoskeletal symptoms in five body regions among Swedish nursing personnel. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 68(1), 27–35.
15.
LindellV., & HanssonT. (1990). Antalet lyft är inte det avgröande. Läkartidningen, 87, 26–27. (Not available in English).
16.
LjungbergA.-S.KilbomÅ, & HäggG. (1989). Occupational lifting by nursing aides and warehouse workers. Ergonomics, 32(1), 59–78.
McAbeeR.R. (1988). Nurses and back injuries: A literature review. AAOHN Journal, 36(5), 200–209.
19.
OwenB.D., & GargA. (1991). Reducing risk for back pain in nursing personnel. AAOHN Journal, 39(1), 24–33.
20.
PingelB., & RobertssonH. (1996). Work organization within the Swedish Health Service from a socio-psychological perspective. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 9(1), 7–15.
21.
RiihimäkiH. (1991). Low-back pain, its origin and risk indicators. Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 17, 81–90.
22.
SAS/STAT user's guide, Version 6. (1989). Cary, NC: SAS Institute Inc.
23.
SiegelS. (1988). Nonparametric statistics for the behavioral sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill International Student Edition.
24.
SilversteinB. (1992). Design and evaluation of interventions to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders. In HagbergM.KilbomÅ. (Eds.). PREMUS-International Scientific Conference on Prevention of Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders (pp. 1–6). Sweden, May 12–14, National Institute of Occupational Health.
25.
TakalaE.-P., & KukkonenR. (1987). The handling of patients on geriatric wards. Applied Ergonomics, 18(1), 17–22.
26.
The Stockholm Training Concept Group of Physiotherapists. (1996). Working postures and patient transfer techniques in care. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm County Council Public Health and Medical Service Committe.
27.
TroupJ., & RauhalaH. (1987). Ergonomics and training. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 24(4), 325–330.
28.
WallersteinN., & WeingerM. (1992). Health and safety education for worker empowerment. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 22, 619–635.
29.
VidemanT.RauhalaH.AspS.LindströmK.CedercreutzG.KämppiM.TolaS., & TroupJ. (1989). Patient-handling skill, back injuries, and back pain. An intervention study in nursing. Spine, 14(2), 148–156.
30.
HjelmWigaeus E.HagbergM.HellströmS., UPP-Study Group. (1993). Prevention of musculoskeletal disorders in nursing aides by physical training. In HagbergM.HofmannF.StösselU.WestlanderG. (Eds.). Occupational health for health care workers (pp. 364–366). Landsberg, Germany: Ecomed.
31.
WoodD. (1987). Design and evaluation of a back injury prevention program within a geriatric hospital. Spine, 12(2), 77–82.
