title: Ergonomic practices within patient care units are associated with musculoskeletal pain and limitations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  With the high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) for patient care unit workers, prevention efforts through ergonomic practices within units may be related to symptoms associated with typical work-related MSDs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We completed a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n = 1,572) in two large academic hospitals in order to evaluate relationships between self-reported musculoskeletal pain, work interference due to this pain, and limitations during activities of daily living (functional limitations) and with ergonomic practices and other organizational policy and practices metrics within the unit. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses tested the significance of these associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of self-reported musculoskeletal symptoms in the past 3 months was 74% with 53% reporting pain in the low back. 32.8% reported that this pain interfered with their work duties and 17.7% reported functional limitations in the prior week. Decreased ergonomic practices were significantly associated with reporting pain in four body areas (low back, neck/shoulder, arms, and lower extremity) in the previous 3 months, interference with work caused by this pain, symptom severity, and limitations in completing activities of daily living in the past week. Except for low back pain and work interference, these associations remained significant when psychosocial covariates such as psychological demands were included in multiple logistic regressions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ergonomic practices appear to be associated with many of the musculoskeletal symptoms denoting their importance for prevention efforts in acute health care settings.
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA. jax@hsph.harvard.edu
authors: Jack T
authors: JT
authors: Dennerlein
authors: Karen
authors: K
authors: Hopcia
authors: Grace
authors: G
authors: Sembajwe
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Kenwood
authors: Anne M
authors: AM
authors: Stoddard
authors: T Helene
authors: TH
authors: Tveito
authors: Dean M
authors: DM
authors: Hashimoto
authors: Glorian
authors: G
authors: Sorensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005791:Patient Care / Q000379:methods*; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology