title: Awareness and Knowledge of Ergonomics Among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ergonomics awareness helps in its right application and contributes significantly to general wellbeing and safety of worker at workplace.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional descriptive study aimed at assessing the level of awareness and knowledge of the science of ergonomics among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Benin City, Nigeria.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 106 medical laboratory scientists comprising 64 and 42 in public and private laboratories, respectively, were recruited for this study using systematic random sampling technique. Data were obtained from the study participants using a questionnaire and subsequently analyzed with the statistical software INSTAT(®).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 106 study participants, 27 (25.5%) were reported to have heard of the term ergonomics. Awareness was significantly associated with gender (male vs. female: 38.5% [15/39] vs. 17.9% [12/67]; odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 7.1;P = 0.02). Awareness of ergonomics was not significantly affected by affiliation (P = 0.18), area of specialization (P = 0.78), post-qualification experience (P = 0.43), and educational qualification (P = 0.23) of the study participants. Irrespective of the affiliation of the participant, only 6 of 27 (22.2%) participants who were aware of ergonomics knew at least a benefit of right application of ergonomics in the laboratory. Knowledge of risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders was reported by 8 of 27 (29.6%) persons who claimed to be aware of ergonomics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Awareness of ergonomics and knowledge of gains of its right application was poor among the study participants. Regular ergonomic education of medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria is advocated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Oladeinde
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
authors.forename: I M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Ekejindu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology School of Medical Laboratory Sciences, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Omoregie
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O D
authors.initials: OD
authors.lastname: Aguh
keywords: Ergonomics; Medical laboratory scientist; Musculoskeletal disorders; Nigeria