Commercially Available Friction-Reducing Patient-Transfer Devices Reduce Biomechanical Stresses on Caregivers’ Upper Extremities and Low Back

Details

• Personal Author:
  Chen J ; Chodraju SSR ; Hwang J ; Kim JH ; Kuppam VA
• Description:
  Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of commercially available friction-reducing patient-transfer devices in reducing biomechanical stresses on caregivers and patients. Background: Caregivers suffer from high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders, which is associated with manual patient handling. However, there is not enough information available on the efficacy of various friction-reducing devices in reducing biomechanical stresses in the upper extremities and low back. Method: During patient-transfer tasks performed by 20 caregivers, we measured hand force; shoulder and trunk posture; shoulder moment; muscle activity in the flexor digitorum superficialis, extensor digitorum communis, biceps, triceps, trapezius, and erector spinae; and usability ratings from four devices: a draw sheet, a repositioning sheet, a slide board, and an air-assisted device. In addition, triaxial head acceleration of mock patients was measured to evaluate patients' head acceleration. Results: The slide board and air-assisted device significantly reduced hand force (p < .001), shoulder flexion (p < .001), shoulder moment (p < .001), muscle activities of caregivers (p < .004), and patients' head acceleration (p < .023) compared with the draw sheet. However, no significant differences in biomechanical measures were found between the repositioning and draw sheets. The air-assisted device consistently showed the lowest biomechanical stresses and was most preferred by participants. Conclusion: Reduction in caregivers' biomechanical stresses and mock patients' head acceleration indicates that a slide board and an air-assisted device can be effective engineering controls to reduce risk of injury. Application: The study results can provide a recommendation for engineering controls to reduce biomechanical stresses for both caregivers and patients. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomechanical Phenomena Health Care Facilities Workforce And Services Health Personnel Musculoskeletal Diseases Musculoskeletal System Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Author Keywords: Air-assisted Device Back Injuries Biomechanics Friction-reducing Device Head Acceleration Health Care Personnel Human Factors Engineering Injury Prevention Low Back Disorders Medical Equipment MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders Patient Handling

  More +
• ISSN:
  0018-7208
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; Oregon ; OSHA Region 10 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  61
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059377
• Citation:
  Hum Factors 2019 Nov; 61(7):1125-1140
• Contact Point Address:
  Jaejin Hwang, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Northern Illinois University, 590 Garden Road, EB230, DeKalb, IL, USA
• Email:
  jhwang3@niu.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Human Factors
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:6b36be04128a4cdcc88fa44119ea6c5e4e614645c89173311b7a33f1868370e5ef926247be290b2a142526728f69f5c878e7c376d946c53f9d37b5869e89b3ce
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223636/cdc_223636_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 445.95 KB ]