/pdf/strangers-in-strange-lands-2kg1pqnv33.pdf

Strangers in Strange Lands

Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most important occupational problems especially among nurses. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in upper limbs and its associated psychosocial factors in the workplace. A systematic review was conducted by searching the Medline/PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, ISI/web of knowledge and Google Scholar databases. The authors classified studies into categories of psychological work stressors and musculoskeletal problems. The statistical analysis was performed using Stata software. We found 1742 articles in our initial search. After reviewing the titles, abstracts and full texts, 66 articles were finally analyzed. Psychosocial factors affecting the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among nurses were identified which included boring work, inadequate staffing, job demands, insufficient support, time pressure, decision latitude, job dissatisfaction, and job stress. There was a significant relationship between these factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in the wrists, shoulders, neck and shoulders, and wrists and hands. Collectively, the results of this study provide strong evidence of some psychosocial factors affecting the prevalence of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among nurses. Thus, organizational interventions to minimize these stressors may be promising in reducing one risk factor for the development of nurses’ musculoskeletal disorders. These interventions should not only consider the factors of physical ergonomics but also seek to improve the organizational aspects of the workplace.

Investigation of psychosocial factors on upper limb musculoskeletal disorders and the prevalence of its musculoskeletal disorders among nurses: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Assessing the risk perception of workers can be very informative in predicting their behavioral outcomes, including task and contextual performance. Yet, research to assess the effect of risk perception on task performance and contextual performance remains scarce. Thus, this study explored the effect of risk perception of work-related musculoskeletal disorders on task and contextual performance in nurses. This study further examined safety behavior as a mediator of these relationships. Using structural equation modeling, the researchers examined these relationships by employing a cross-sectional survey with a quantitative approach. The data was collected via questionnaires from 382 nurses who work in three major hospitals in Accra Metropolis, Ghana. The results showed that nurses' risk perception positively influenced their task and contextual performance, and that safety behavior partially mediated the effects of risk perception on task and contextual performance. This study offers a theoretical framework and empirical evidence for the concept of risk perception and its association with safety behavior, task, and contextual performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to assess the relationships that exist among these variables. Thus, future studies are needed to verify the causality of the relationships.

Influence of Risk Perception on Task and Contextual Performance: A Case of Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in Nurses:

Intensive care unit (ICU) nurses are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMDs). Data on occupational injuries indicate the significance of WRMDs among ICU nurses. Intervention programs have previously been developed to reduce WRMDs, but different intervention methods need to be adopted for different groups of people. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidimensional intervention program to prevent and reduce WRMDs in ICU nurses. This study was designed as a two-armed cluster-controlled trial with an intervention group and a control group. The clusters were independent hospital ICUs, and the participants consisted of registered nurses in China. By cluster random sampling, 89 nurses from two ICUs were assigned to the intervention group, and 101 nurses from two other ICUs were assigned to the control group. A multidimensional intervention program based on previous studies was designed. This program combined improving risk perception, health behavior training, and promoting a safe working environment. The multidimensional intervention program was implemented in the intervention group, whereas routine specialist training was implemented in the control group. Baseline and follow-up (3 and 6 months) data were collected using self-reported online questionnaires. The primary outcome was the report rate of WRMDs in the past 7 days. Secondary outcomes were risk perception, application of health behavior, and perception of a safe working environment. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 19.0. A total of 190 nurses provided three recorded outcome measurements (intervention group, N = 89 (94.68%); control group, N = 101 (94.39%)). After 6 months, the intervention group experienced significant improvement relative to the control group in the report rate of WRMDs in the past 7 days (OR = 1.953, p = 0.037), risk perception (OR = 0.517, p < 0.001), application of health behavior (OR = 0.025, p < 0.001), and perception of a safe working environment (OR = 1.637, p = 0.024). The multidimensional intervention program was superior to routine specialist training in preventing the occurrence of WRMDs in ICU nurses. WRMD training should include multifaceted approaches and pay increased attention to specific department functions.

/pdf/effectiveness-of-a-multidimensional-intervention-program-in-31zkihuaqm.pdf

Effectiveness of a multidimensional intervention program in improving occupational musculoskeletal disorders among intensive care unit nurses: a cluster-controlled trial with follow-up at 3 and 6 months.

Background: The application of external abdominal pressure by endoscopy nurses has long been recognized to facilitate passage of the endoscope during colonoscopy. Applying sustained abdominal pressure during a colonoscopy for an obese patient is especially challenging and may result in musculoskeletal injury for the endoscopy nurse. Methods: Four experienced endoscopy nurses cared for 100 obese adult patients scheduled for colonoscopy who had a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 kg/m2. Duration of applied pressure, as well as nurse pain and fatigue were examined after they cared for 50 patients with and 50 patients without a positioning wedge. Findings: No difference in the mean fatigue score between nurses providing standard care versus those using the positing wedge was observed (mean score: 2.6 vs. 2.0, respectively); however, self-reported pain was higher for those providing standard care relative to those using the positioning wedge (mean score: 2.9 vs. 1.3, p = .0143). In 18 patients who required both the wedge and pressure, these nurses still reported lower pain scores relative to nurses who provided care without a wedge (M = 1.3 vs. 2.9, respectively). Conclusion/Application to practice: A positioning wedge for obese patients undergoing a colonoscopy can reduce the need for external abdominal pressure applied by endoscopy nurses. Occupational health nurses should endorse the use of a gel wedge to promote safe patient handling and reduce the potential for musculoskeletal injury among endoscopy nurses.

Application of a Positioning Wedge During Colonoscopy of Obese Patients to Mitigate Nurse Pain.

Immigrants account for a significant proportion of the nursing workforce in the United States (U.S.). Although different cultural backgrounds may affect immigrant nurses' perceptions of work and occupational health risks, little research has been conducted. Defining immigrant nurses as those who received initial nursing education in foreign countries, this study examined the differences in work-related perceptions and experiences of musculoskeletal (MS) symptoms and injuries between U.S.-educated and foreign-educated nurses. We analyzed data from a cross-sectional study using a statewide random sample of 419 California registered nurses. Foreign-educated nurses reported a more positive safety climate (p = .017) and perceived their jobs as less demanding (p = .008) than did U.S.-educated nurses. The prevalence of work-related MS symptoms was significantly lower in foreign-educated nurses than in U.S.-educated nurses (p = .044), but the difference was not significant in the multivariable analyses. Positive safety climate was significantly associated with a decreased risk of work-related MS symptoms and injuries, and this relationship was greater among U.S.-educated nurses than among foreign-educated nurses. Our findings suggest that immigrant nurses may have different perceptions about safety climate and job demand, which may modify their occupational health risks.

/pdf/work-related-perceptions-injuries-and-musculoskeletal-45hrqmhe55.pdf

Kyung Mi Kim

Papers

Work-Related Perceptions, Injuries, and Musculoskeletal Symptoms: Comparison Between U.S.-Educated and Foreign-Educated Nurses.