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Manual Handling Workload and Musculoskeletal Discomfort in Nursing Personnel

01 Jan 2001-
TL;DR: This paper presents a meta-analysis of the literature on screening for Musculoskeletal Disorders and results show that screening for WMSDs in nurses’ high-risk patient care units results is positive.
Abstract: iv Chapter 1: Introduction 1 Scope and Cost of Back Pain 2 Relationship of Musculoskeletal Pain to Workers’ Compensation Claims 3 Association with Strenuous Tasks 3 Chapter 2: Review of the Literature 6 Causes of Musculoskeletal Disorders 6 Body Parts Affected by WMSDs in Nursing 6 WMSD Risk Factors 6 Patient Handling and Movement Risk Factor Assessment 10 Patient Weight As Risk Factor 12 Assessing Risk 12 Exposure Assessment 16 Nursing Workload Measurement Systems 17 Risk Reduction Factors 19 Characteristics of James A. Haley VAMC High-Risk Patient Care Units 19 Screening for Musculoskeletal Disorders 20 Null Hypotheses 22 Definition of Terms 22 Chapter 3: Methods 27 Study Design 27 Sample and Sampling Procedures 27 Data Collection Procedures 28 Chapter 4: Results 30 Sample Size/Power Analysis 30 Data Analysis 30 Sample 30 Data Coding 32 Independent Variables 32

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Measuring the change in current back pain prevalence yields more timely information about the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention than assessing injury incidence rates, because of the high percent of nursing staff members who work in pain but delay filing workers' compensation claims.
Abstract: 1. The problem of work related musculoskeletal disorders of the low back in nursing personnel has been well documented in the literature by cross sectional studies showing high prevalence rates in licensed nurses and nursing aides. However, it is difficult to compare findings among these studies because of the use of nonstandardized symptom surveys, variations in case definitions, and other methodological inconsistencies. 2. Measuring the change in current back pain prevalence yields more timely information about the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention than assessing injury incidence rates, because of the high percent of nursing staff members who work in pain but delay filing workers' compensation claims. 3. As employers attempt to reduce manual handling injuries, occupational health nurses may be called upon to survey workers for musculoskeletal symptom prevalence and document the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions. Before using or developing any musculoskeletal disorder symptom survey for workplace surveillance or research, occupational health nurses should determine whether the survey has adequate reliability, validity, responsiveness, and practicality.

76 citations


Cites background from "Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..."

  • ...Forty six studies, including the author's doctoral research (Menzel, 2001), were chosen for further review....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses was high in the study area and working in mal-positions, working in the same positions for long period of time, working with disoriented patients and bending or twisting back during work were identified associated factors.
Abstract: Background: Musculoskeletal disorders represent a significant occupational problem among nurses; however, there is paucity of information on work related musculoskeletal disorder among nurses in Ethiopia. Objective: To assess work related musculoskeletal disorders and associated factors among nurses working in Jimma Zone Public hospitals, South west Ethiopia. Methods: Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma Zone public hospitals from March 12-27, 2015. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 333 participants. Data were analyzed by using binary logistic regression and Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals used to examine associations between dependent and independent variables. Results: The prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders at any body site was 60.8% and the highest report 124 (67.8%) was seen in the lower back which was followed by the neck 44 (24%) and knees 43 (23.6%). Lifting and transferring dependent patients [AOR 2.1 (1.1-4.3)], giving wound care [AOR 4.2 (1.9-8.9)], working in medical ward [AOR 9.6 (2.4-38.3)] and Intensive care unit [AOR 3.4 (1.2-9.7)], working in mal-positions [AOR 9.7 (2.2-42.6)], working in the same positions for long period of time [AOR, 6.1 (1.3-28.7)], working with disoriented patients [AOR 2.6 ( 1.1-5.7) and bending or twisting back during work [AOR 5.1 (1.1-23.7)] were identified associated factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of work related musculoskeletal disorders among nurses was high in the study area. Lifting and transferring dependent patients, giving wound care, working in medical ward and Intensive care unit, working in mal-positions, working in the same positions for long period of time, working with disoriented patients and bending or twisting back during work were identified associated factors.

6 citations

Journal Article
TL;DR: Age and experience were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in the different body regions and the results indicated out of every 10 workers, in the last work week, seven reported complaints in the lower legs.
Abstract: Although Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs) represents a common occupational problem, few epidemiological studies have investigated MSDs among industrial workers. MSDs are a common industrial health problem throughout the world and a serious cause of disability among the industrial workers.The goal of the study was to investigate the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms (ache, pain, or discomfort) among rubber workers in Iran, using the standard Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ). The study population consisted of 100 males with mean age 31.73. Out of every 10 workers, in the last work week, seven reported complaints in the lower legs. The results are also indicated age and experience were significantly associated with musculoskeletal symptoms in the different body regions.

4 citations


Cites background from "Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..."

  • ...[21]; Nursing personnel [19]; Information Technology professionals [22]; Production assembly workers [23]; Dental students [24]; notebook computer users [25]....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Comparison of results with those obtained from a similar study published in 1983 indicated an increase of almost 40% in the prevalence of back pain symptoms in nurses, although the linearity of the rise was not ascertained.
Abstract: Two studies using retrospective questionnaires were conducted to obtain epidemiological information from nursing personnel (n = 1134) and among an age- and gender-matched cross-section of the general population (n = 315). The point and annual prevalence of back pain did not differ between the two sample groups. Nurses demonstrated a greater annual incidence of back pain (14.7%, compared to 11.5% in non-nurses). The point prevalence of back pain increased with age in both sample groups. Nurses considered patient-handling tasks instrumental in the onset of back pain symptoms. Comparison of results with those obtained from a similar study published in 1983 indicated an increase of almost 40% in the prevalence of back pain symptoms in nurses, although the linearity of the rise was not ascertained. The implementation of guidelines on the manual handling of loads has led to revised training procedures and these may have influenced the epidemiological findings.

93 citations


"Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..." refers background or result in this paper

  • ...34 When the Severity Indexes were used as the dependent variables, there were no significant regression coefficients for any body part....

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  • ...When these reactions occur frequently over a prolonged time period, they lead to health disorders.”...

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  • ...3 When Leighton and Reilly (1995) surveyed 1134 British nurses about back pain, two-thirds of those reporting an annual back pain prevalence attributed their injuries to patient handling or movement....

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  • ...When the questionnaires were returned, they were coded and stripped of participants’ names....

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  • ...Nursing Workload Measurement Systems When administrators determine the number and type of nursing staff to assign to a hospital or nursing home unit, they use a variety of “nurse demand methods” (Arthur & James, 1994, p. 558)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Of the five manual methods for transferring, the use of the walking belt was determined to be least stressful and most comfortable for nursing subjects and clients.
Abstract: Transferring the clients from toilet to wheelchair was the task ranked as most stressful by nursing assistants in a nursing home. The compressive force to the L5S1 disc by client weight during the toilet to wheelchair transfer exceeded the action limit permitted as safe by NIOSH. Two of the three mechanical hoists were perceived to be as stressful or more stressful than the moment transfer methods with the walking belt. Of the five manual methods for transferring, the use of the walking belt was determined to be least stressful and most comfortable for nursing subjects and clients.

90 citations


"Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..." refers background in this paper

  • ...For example, Owen and Garg (1991) found that transferring a patient from wheelchair to toilet exceeds NIOSH action limits for L5/S1 spinal loading each time it is performed....

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  • ...Patient Handling and Movement Risk Factor Assessment Heavy patients are more burdensome than light ones due to the increased force needed to move them (Owen & Garg ,1991; Owen et al., 2000/2001; Winkelmolen, Landeweerd, & Drost, 1994; Zhuang et al., 1999)....

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  • ...Owen and Garg (1991) and Nelson et al. (2001) rank ordered at-risk patient handling and movement tasks in terms of participant-reported stressfulness....

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  • ...11 Nevertheless, Owen and Garg (1991) made some estimates of high-risk (1st level) patient handling tasks using the first NIOSH Lifting Equation (NIOSH, 1981)....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It appears that patient lifting frequency is indeed a significant causative factor in the production of low back injuries in nursing personnel.

87 citations


"Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Injuries to the back or back pain are the most frequent outcome variables in cohort or cross-sectional studies of nursing personnel (Fuortes, Shi, Zhang, Zwerling, & Schootman, 1994; Harber et al., 1987; Hignett, 1996; Kumar, 1990; Leighton & Reilly, 1995; Smedley et al., 1995; Stobbe et al., 1988; Stubbs et al., 1983)....

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  • ...…al., 1976; Harber et al., 1985; Ferguson, 1970; Greenwood, 1986; Jensen, 1985, 1987; Knibbe & Friele, 1996; Leighton & Reilly, 1995; Love, 1997; Owen 1985, 1989; Smedley, et al., 1997; Stobbe et al., 1988; Stubbs, Rivers, Hudson, & Worringham, 1981; Videman et al., 1984; Williamson et al., 1988)....

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  • ...Stobbe et al. (1988) divided study participants into two groups, based on high or low frequency of patient lifting....

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  • ...…back pain are the most frequent outcome variables in cohort or cross-sectional studies of nursing personnel (Fuortes, Shi, Zhang, Zwerling, & Schootman, 1994; Harber et al., 1987; Hignett, 1996; Kumar, 1990; Leighton & Reilly, 1995; Smedley et al., 1995; Stobbe et al., 1988; Stubbs et al., 1983)....

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  • ...Stobbe et al. (1988) demonstrated that frequency of lifting was related to the incidence of back injury....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Five two- person manual lifting techniques were evaluated as to the amount of physical exertion required of the nurses; the barrow lift appeared to be the most strenuous one; the Australian lift resulted in low compressive forces and a moderate level of perceived exertion.
Abstract: In the present laboratory study five two-person manual lifting techniques were evaluated as to the amount of physical exertion required of the nurses. Ten female volunteers served as nurses; two healthy volunteers (weight: 55 kg and 75 kg) served as passive patients. The working postures and motions were recorded on videotape. The data thus obtained were used in a anatomical-biomechanical analysis. The perceived exertion by the nurses was measured as well. In almost all situations the compressive forces on the nurse's spine exceeded their acceptable limit of 3425 N. Differences between the lifting techniques were most obvious when the 55 kg patient was lifted. Ratings of the perceived exertion (RPE scores) were higher in symmetrical handling than in asymmetrical handling. The three techniques using asymmetrical hand positions produced less subjective stress. RPE scores and rotation of the back were negatively correlated. Rotating the back when moving a patient from one side to the other seems to ease the task. On the whole, the results of the biomechanical evaluation are in line with the subjective perception of the nurses. In both instances the barrow lift appeared to be the most strenuous one; the Australian lift resulted in low compressive forces and a moderate level of perceived exertion.

84 citations


"Manual Handling Workload and Muscul..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Winkelmolen et al. (1994) studied a variety of two person manual techniques to move a patient up in bed....

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  • ...Table 6 Compressive Forces Patient 1 (75 kg) Patient 2 (55 kg) Australian lift 3900 kN 3300 kN Orthodox lift 4200 3500 Barrow lift 4500 4000 Through arm lift 4100 3700 Under-arm lift 4100 3700 Source: Winkelmolen et al. (1994)....

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  • ...Winkelmolen et al. (1994) found there was a significant difference in L5/S1 compressive force when a 75 kg patient was lifted versus a 55 kg patient, with the heavier patient producing more compressive force even in a two person manual lift....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A 'pain assessment instrument' including a questionnaire, VAS and pain drawings may be useful to reveal conditions in the neck and shoulders and thoracic spine, common sites of work related musculoskeletal disorders.

82 citations