Author/Editor		Stričević, Jadranka; Balantič, Zvone; Turk, Zmago; Čelan, Dušan
Title		Ergonomic analysis of workload diminution by the use of assistive technical equipment at nursing care
Type		članek
Source		HealthMed
Vol. and No.		Letnik 3, št. 3
Publication year		2009
Volume		str. 212-8
Language		eng
Abstract		Manual lifting, transferring and repositioning of patients are activities that have been associated with an increased risk of pain and injury to nursing staff, particularly to their back. These activities can include high physical demands due to the large amount of weight involved, awkward body postures resulting from leaning over a bed or working in a confined area. This part of daily nursing care is reported to be responsible for the majority of physical injuries, absence from work and workers compensation costs. The frequencies of back injuries are also influenced by a lack of the assistive ergonomic equipment in hospitals. The aim of the research was to present the benefits of ergonomic equipment usage in nursing care provision. After preliminary survey 7 departments closely connected to low back pain of personnel and in possession of ergonomic equipment have been selected for body postures analysis. Nursing staff were observed by diversified regular working tasks, nospecific tasks program was running. The sample consisted of 28 nursing staff members, 4 from each department. Each nursing staff member was observed twice, first time working manual and second time by use of ergonomic equipment. Ergonomic and control group have been distinguished to a total sample of 56 observations. The assessment of postural workload was performed by the OWAS method. Observation of 15 harmful body postures by use of ergonomic equipment conducted in 13 being improved by statistical significance, unfortunately one worsened. Overall average percentage distribution of harmful body postures decreased by 12.9 percentage points.
Descriptors		NURSING CARE LOW BACK PAIN WORKLOAD POSTURE HUMAN ENGINEERING