title: Results of a pilot intervention to improve health and safety for health care workers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the feasibility of a multicomponent pilot intervention to improve worker safety and wellness in two Boston hospitals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 3-month intervention was conducted on seven hospital units. Pre- (374 workers) and postsurveys (303 workers) assessed changes in safety/ergonomic behaviors and practices, and social support. Wellness outcomes included self-reported pain/aching in specific body areas (musculoskeletal disorders or MSDs) and physical activity (PA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain was reported frequently (81%), and PA averaged 4 hours per week. There was a postintervention increase in safe patient handling (P < 0.0001), safety practices (P = 0.0004), ergonomics (P = 0.009), and supervisor support (P = 0.01), but no changes in MSDs or PA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Safe patient handling, ergonomics, and safety practices are good targets for worker safety and wellness interventions; longer intervention periods may reduce the risk of MSDs.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (Dr Caspi), University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn; Department of Physical Therapy (Dr Dennerlein), Northeastern University, Boston, Mass; New England Research Institutes (Mr Kenwood and Dr Stoddard), Watertown, Mass; College of Nursing (Dr Hopcia), University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Ill; Department of Occupational Heath (Dr Hashimoto), Partner's HealthCare, Inc, Boston, Mass; Department of Society, Human Development and Health (Dr Sorensen), Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Mass; and Center for Community-Based Research (Dr Sorensen), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Mass.
authors.forename: Caitlin Eicher
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Caspi
authors.forename: Jack T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Dennerlein
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kenwood
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Stoddard
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hopcia
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
authors.forename: Glorian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sorensen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000009:adverse effects; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D010809:Physical Fitness; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support