title: Prevention of low back pain in female eldercare workers: randomized controlled work site trial.
abstract: METHODS
  Randomized controlled trial.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of an ergonomic and psychosocial intervention in reducing low back pain (LBP) among health care workers.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  LBP and injuries are reported frequently among health care workers worldwide. Improvement of person-transfer techniques is the preferred tool in the prevention of both. Although popular, to our knowledge, any effect has not been documented in controlled trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study participants were eldercare workers from 19 eldercare groups randomly assigned to the transfer technique, stress management, or reference arm. A total of 163 individuals (79% of the source population) participated in both baseline and follow-up after 2 years. Outcome was intra-individual change in rating of LBP during the past 3 and 12 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found no difference in LBP in any of the intervention arms over the study period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study showed no effect of a transfer technique or stress management program targeting LBP. Thus, there is a need for discussing other priorities in the prevention of LBP among health care workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. lodj@ofir.dk
authors.forename: Lone Donbaek
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gonge
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jørs
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ryom
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Foldspang
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vesterdorf
authors.forename: Jens Peter
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bonde
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000517:prevention & control; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006282:Health Personnel; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011187:Posture; D012944:Social Support; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000628:therapy; D016474:Weight-Bearing