A multi-component patient-handling intervention improves attitudes and behaviors for safe patient handling and reduces aggression experienced by nursing staff: A controlled before-after study.
This study evaluated an intervention for patient-handling equipment aimed to improve nursing staffs' use of patient handling equipment and improve their general health, reduce musculoskeletal problems, aggressive episodes, days of absence and work-related accidents. As a controlled before-after study, questionnaire data were collected at baseline and 12-month follow-up among nursing staff at intervention and control wards at two hospitals. At 12-month follow-up, the intervention group had more positive attitudes towards patient-handling equipment and increased use of specific patient-handling equipment. In addition, a lower proportion of nursing staff in the intervention group had experienced physically aggressive episodes. No significant change was observed in general health status, musculoskeletal problems, days of absence or work-related accidents. The intervention resulted in more positive attitudes and behaviours for safe patient-handling and less physically aggressive episodes. However, this did not translate into improved health of the staff during the 12-month study period.
Centre for Health Economics Research (COHERE), Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
Bettina Wulff
BW
Risør
ErgoPro, Ravnsøvej 40A, 8680 Ry, Denmark.
Sven Dalgas
SD
Casper
National Research Centre for the Working Environment, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Physical Activity and Human Performance Group, SMI, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark.
Lars Louis
LL
Andersen
Centre for Health Economics Research (COHERE), Department of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, J.B. Winsløwsvej 9B, 5000 Odense C, Denmark. Electronic address: jas@sdu.dk.
Jan
J
Sørensen
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D065187:Controlled Before-After Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055805:Moving and Lifting Patients / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D016272:Occupational Health; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018582:Sick Leave
Aggression; Assistant device; Healthcare professional; Low-back pain; Musculoskeletal disorder; Occupational health; Patient moves; Patient-handling; Physical disorders; Working environment