Comparison of three single-person manual patient techniques for bed-to-wheelchair transfers.
The uniqueness of the home environment still requires home health clinicians to lift and transfer patients manually, tasks that are known to cause back injuries. Three manual patient transfers were evaluated to establish the technique with the least risk to the low back. Patient and worker perceptions as well as preferences, exposure duration, and a biomechanical low back evaluation are presented, together with transfer technique recommendations.
Labor Education and Research Center, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR, USA. jhessdc@earthlink.net
Jennifer A
JA
Hess
Laurel D
LD
Kincl
David S
DS
Mandeville
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D053587:Arthrometry, Articular; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D001513:Beds; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D003152:Community Health Nursing / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006699:Home Care Services; D006801:Humans; D017770:Lifting / Q000009:adverse effects; D016015:Logistic Models; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D009922:Oregon; D011187:Posture; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017751:Safety Management; D014910:Wheelchairs