title: Effectiveness of participatory ergonomic interventions on health outcomes: a systematic review.
abstract: The objective of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the literature on the effectiveness of participatory ergonomic (PE) interventions for improving workers' health. The search strategy targeted six electronic databases and identified 442 potential articles. Each article was examined by pairs of reviewers for relevance (assessed a participative ergonomic workplace intervention, with at least one health outcome, published in English in peer reviewed literature). Twenty-three articles met relevance criteria and were then appraised for methodological strength. Using a best evidence synthesis approach, 12 studies that were rated as 'medium' or higher provided partial to moderate evidence that PE interventions have a positive impact on: musculoskeletal symptoms, reducing injuries and workers' compensation claims, and a reduction in lost days from work or sickness absence. However, the magnitude of the effect requires more precise definition.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Work & Health, 481 University Avenue, Suite 800, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G 2E9. irivilis@iwh.on.ca
authors.forename: Irina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rivilis
authors.forename: Dwayne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Van Eerd
authors.forename: Kimberley
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cullen
authors.forename: Donald C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Cole
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Irvin
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tyson
authors.forename: Quenby
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mahood
mesh_terms: D006804:Ergonomics / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016272:Occupational Health; D009864:Ontario; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015397:Program Evaluation