Results of a pilot intervention to improve health and safety for healthcare workers

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Occup Environ Med
• Personal Author:
  Caspi, Caitlin Eicher ; Dennerlein, Jack T. ; Kenwood, Christopher ; Stoddard, Anne M. ; Hopcia, Karen ; Hashimoto, Dean ; Sorensen, Glorian
• Description:
  Objective
  
  To test the feasibility of a multicomponent pilot intervention to improve worker safety and wellness in two Boston hospitals.
  
  Methods
  
  The 3-month intervention was conducted on seven hospital units. Pre (374 workers) and post (303 workers) surveys assessed changes in safety/ergonomic behaviors and practices, and social support. Wellness outcomes included self-reported pain/aching in specific body areas (musculoskeletal disorders, or MSDs) and physical activity (PA).
  
  Results
  
  Pain was reported frequently (81%), and PA averaged 4h per week. There was a post-intervention increase in safe patient handling (p <0.0001), safety practices (p = 0.0004), ergonomics (p = 0.009), and supervisor support (p = 0.01), but no changes in MSDs or PA.
  
  Conclusions
  
  Safe patient handling, ergonomics, and safety practices are good targets for worker safety and wellness interventions; longer intervention periods may reduce risk of MSDs.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adult Ergonomics Female Health Behavior Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice Health Promotion Hospitals Humans Male Middle Aged Motor Activity Moving And Lifting Patients Musculoskeletal Pain Nursing Staff, Hospital Occupational Diseases Occupational Health Physical Fitness Pilot Projects Social Support

  More +
• Keywords:
  Healthcare Intervention Musculoskeletal Symptoms Physical Activity Safe Patient Handling
• Source:
  J Occup Environ Med. 55(12):1449-1455
• Pubmed ID:
  24270297
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC3858503
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  U19OH008861/ACL HHSUnited States/ ; R25 CA057711/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U10 OH008861/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R25CA057711/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; T32 CA163184/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U54 CA153603/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R25CA163184/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U19 OH008861/OH/NIOSH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; R25 CA163184/CA/NCI NIH HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  55
• Issue:
  12
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:75be335ef7332c397174c75cfaa40d3f45dd15bc0095b792a4473ac891c4d40e
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/29800/cdc_29800_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 154.84 KB ]