Prevention of low back pain in female eldercare workers: randomized controlled work site trial.
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.
Jensen
Lone Donbaek
LD
Department of Occupational Medicine, University Hospital of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark. lodj@ofir.dk
Gonge
Henrik
H
Jørs
Erik
E
Ryom
Pia
P
Foldspang
Anders
A
Christensen
Michael
M
Vesterdorf
Anita
A
Bonde
Jens Peter
JP
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