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Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries
This study has been completed.
First Received: March 14, 2001   Last Updated: January 30, 2009   History of Changes
Sponsored by: Department of Veterans Affairs
Information provided by: Department of Veterans Affairs
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00012844
  Purpose

This study is one of several initiated by the investigators to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in patient care providers. Nurses have one of the highest incidences of work related back injuries of any profession. Over the past 20 years, efforts to reduce work-related injuries in nursing have been largely unsuccessful.


Condition Intervention
Back Pain
Occupational Diseases
Device: Redesigning patient handling tasks using equip: Arjo Bianca Overhead Lift, Hill-Rom Resident Transfer Device, TranSit Chair, Total Care Bed
Procedure: Redesigned patient handling tasks using work practice controls: setting bed height at correct level; applying anti-embolism stockings from foot of bed

MedlinePlus related topics: Back Injuries Back Pain Occupational Health
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Prevention, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Factorial Assignment, Safety Study
Official Title: Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries

Further study details as provided by Department of Veterans Affairs:

Estimated Enrollment: 134
Study Completion Date: December 1999
Arms Assigned Interventions
1 Device: Redesigning patient handling tasks using equip: Arjo Bianca Overhead Lift, Hill-Rom Resident Transfer Device, TranSit Chair, Total Care Bed Procedure: Redesigned patient handling tasks using work practice controls: setting bed height at correct level; applying anti-embolism stockings from foot of bed

Detailed Description:

Background:

This study is one of several initiated by the investigators to reduce musculoskeletal injuries in patient care providers. Nurses have one of the highest incidences of work related back injuries of any profession. Over the past 20 years, efforts to reduce work-related injuries in nursing have been largely unsuccessful.

Objectives:

The goal of this study is to reduce the incidence and severity of occupational musculoskeletal injuries in nursing through the redesign of stressful patient handling tasks. This study addresses three objectives: 1) conduct a quantitative, biomechanically based, ergonomic evaluation of the eleven "at risk" tasks in nursing practice; 2) redesign the techniques or equipment needed to perform these tasks safely or with reduced risk of musculoskeletal injury; and 3) conduct laboratory- based assessment of the biomechanical benefit of the proposed intervention strategies.

Methods:

Using a randomized experimental design with a control group, ten "at risk" tasks will be evaluated. The sample included 160 experienced nursing staff. Data were collected using: 1) Caregiver Data Form and Anthropometry Data Sheet; 2) 3-D Electromagnetic Tracking System; 3) EMG; and 4) modified Borg Scale for Perceived Comfort. Include: caregiver characteristics, joint torque, spinal forces, spinal tolerance limit and damage load limit, erector spinae surface EMG, joint angles, percent of population capable of performing each task by gender, velocity of lift, reach, heart rate, and perceived comfort.

Status:

This project is complete.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   Yes
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Subjects included RNs, LPNs, and Nas with a minimum of 6 months experience and a job description that included a minimum of 80% direct patient care responsibilities. Subjects were required to be injury free for at least one year, as evidenced by a brief orthopedic examination and interview. The orthopedic evaluation included an examination of posture, gait, range of motion, sensory deficits, muscle exam, and straight leg raise. We excluded subjects with self-report of injury or any positive finding of back musculoskeletal disorders within the past 12 months.

Exclusion Criteria:

  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00012844

Locations
United States, Florida
VISN 8 Patient Safety Center (118)
Tampa, Florida, United States, 33612-5739
Sponsors and Collaborators
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Audrey L. Nelson, RN PhD FAAN VISN 8 Patient Safety Center (118)
  More Information

No publications provided

Responsible Party: Department of Veterans Affairs ( Nelson, Audrey - Principal Investigator )
Study ID Numbers: NRI 95-150
Study First Received: March 14, 2001
Last Updated: January 30, 2009
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00012844     History of Changes
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by Department of Veterans Affairs:
Musculoskeletal Disorders
Patient Lifting
Occupational Accidents

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Signs and Symptoms
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Wounds and Injuries
Back Injuries
Neurologic Manifestations
Disorders of Environmental Origin
Occupational Diseases
Pain
Back Pain

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Signs and Symptoms
Nervous System Diseases
Wounds and Injuries
Back Injuries
Neurologic Manifestations
Disorders of Environmental Origin
Pain
Occupational Diseases
Back Pain

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on May 06, 2009