[The assessment of exposure to the risk of the manual lifting of patients. The results of a clinical study in a geriatric institute of Milan].
In a geriatric hospital in Milan, with over 1000 beds and 750 healthcare workers (with different skills and training), by means of an accident register, during 1997 an 11% incidence of acute low back pain was recorded, with a mean of 19 days absence from work. For this reason, special attention was given to the assessment of manual patient handling risk and to the consequent effects on the lumbar spine using, for the purpose, the method proposed by the EPM Research Unit. Of the 10 wards analysed none showed a negligible exposure index (MAPO Index < 1.5), only one was in the medium exposure class (MAPO Index = 3.05) and the other 9 wards had high exposure (MAPO Index 5.63-24). A group of 59 men (mean age 35.6 years and mean job seniority 9 years) and 179 women (mean age 36.7 years and mean job seniority 10 years) were examined. The most significant result of the physical examination was the high prevalence of subjects who reported at least one episode of acute low back pain in the previous 12 months (16). This was double the prevalence for the country as a whole (8.3%) and 7 times greater compared to the group not exposed to manual load handling risk (2.3%). The prevalence of degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine in the group under study (4.2%) was also analysed, and is of particular interest if associated with the difficulties in completing the diagnostic process. Lastly, 6.3% of the subjects examined were judged unfit (temporarily of permanently) for work involving manual handling of patients.
Monti
M
M
Istituto Geriatrico Pio Albergo Trivulzio, Milano.
De Luca
P
P
Battaglieri
M
M
Campisi
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D000078329:Workforce
Valutazione dell'esposizione al rischio di movimentazione manuale dei pazienti. Risultati dell'indagine clinica in un Istituto Geriatrico Milanese.