Physical exposure during patient transfer and risk of back injury & low-back pain: prospective cohort study

BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders

Markus D. Jakobsen¹  Lars L. Andersen²  Jonas Vinstrup²  Pascal Madeleine³ 

[1] National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, DK, Denmark;National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen Ø, DK, Denmark;Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark;Sport Sciences – Performance and Technology, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Aalborg, Denmark;

关键词: Patient transfer;    Biomechanical load;    Low-back pain;    Back injury;    Healthcare;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12891-020-03731-2

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundWork-related musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are common among healthcare workers. Because frequent patient transfer has been associated with increased risk of MSDs, we aim to quantify the physical load associated with commonly-used assistive devices and to investigate associations between accumulated physical exposure and risk of MSDs.MethodsBy applying an exposure matrix based on objective measurements of electromyography and trunk flexion on a large (n = 1285) prospective cohort, intensity of low-back pain (LBP) and odds of back injury at 1-year follow-up were modelled using linear models and logistic regressions, respectively. The cohort was divided into groups according to physical exposure; i.e. low (1st quartile), moderate (2nd and 3rd quartiles) and high (4th quartile) exposure.ResultsExposure profiles are provided for 9 groups of assistive devices, with ceiling lifts and intelligent beds eliciting the lowest physical exposure. In the fully-adjusted model, we report differences in LBP intensity at follow-up between the low and moderate exposure groups (p = 0.0085). No difference was found between the moderate and high exposure groups (p = 0.2967). Likewise, we find no associations between physical exposure and odds of back injury at 1-year follow-up, with a prevalence of 11, 13 and 11% for the three groups, respectively.ConclusionsLow physical exposure during patient transfer was prospectively associated with lower intensity of LBP. Consistent use of assistive devices associated with low physical exposure, namely ceiling-lifts and intelligent beds, may play a role in reducing the incidence of MSDs among healthcare workers.

【 授权许可】

CC BY