Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries - Tabular View

This Tabular View shows the required WHO registration data elements as marked by ^†

Tracking Information

First Received Date ^†

March 14, 2001

Last Updated Date

January 30, 2009

Start Date ^†

Current Primary Outcome Measures ^†

Original Primary Outcome Measures ^†

Change History

Complete list of historical versions of study NCT00012844 on ClinicalTrials.gov Archive Site

Current Secondary Outcome Measures ^†

Original Secondary Outcome Measures ^†

Descriptive Information

Brief Title ^†

Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries

Official Title ^†

Redesigning Patient Handling Tasks to Prevent Nursing Back Injuries

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

Background:

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.

Study Phase

Study Type ^†

Interventional

Study Design ^†

Prevention, Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Factorial Assignment, Safety Study

Condition ^†

Back Pain
Occupational Diseases

Intervention ^†

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

Study Arms / Comparison Groups

Publications *

* Includes publications given by the data provider as well as publications identified by National Clinical Trials Identifier (NCT ID) in Medline.

Recruitment Information

Recruitment Status ^†

Completed

Enrollment ^†

134

Completion Date

December 1999

Primary Completion Date

Eligibility 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:

Gender

Both

Ages

18 Years and older

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Contacts ^††

Location Countries ^†

United States

Expanded Access Status

Administrative Information

NCT ID ^†

NCT00012844

Responsible Party

Nelson, Audrey - Principal Investigator, Department of Veterans Affairs

Secondary IDs ^††

Study Sponsor ^†

Department of Veterans Affairs

Collaborators ^††

Investigators ^†

Principal Investigator:

Audrey L. Nelson, RN PhD FAAN

VISN 8 Patient Safety Center (118)

Information Provided By

Department of Veterans Affairs

Verification Date

March 2001

^† Required WHO trial registration data element.
^†† WHO trial registration data element that is required only if it exists.