Epidemiological studies have shown that patient transfer is a risk factor for back pain, back injuries and long term sickness absence, whereas consistent use of assistive devices during patient transfer is associated with reduced risk of back injury. In consequence, Danish hospitals have made great efforts to increase knowledge, availability and use of assistive devices to reduce work-related physical strain due to patient transfer. Yet, a recent survey among more than 300 nurses and nurses' aides showed that two thirds rarely uses assistive devices during patient transfer. Thus it seems relevant to investigate barriers, opportunities and practical solutions for increasing use of assistive devices among healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a participatory organizational intervention for improved use of assistive devices during patient transfer.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
625
National Research Centre for the Working Environment
Copenhagen, Denmark
Use of assistive devices (push-button)
The healthcare workers are encouraged to push one of the following two buttons every time they leave the room after having performed patient transfer; button 1 "Press this button if you used the necessary assistive devices for your patient transfer" and button 2 "Press this button if you did not use the necessary assistive devices for your patient transfer". The number of Button 1 counts as a percentage of total counts (Button 1+2) will be calculated for set of counters and used as primary outcome.
Time frame: Average use during the entire 1-year follow-up (i.e. continous measurement during 1 year) adjusted for use during 4 weeks prior to the intervention (baseline)
Use of assistive devices (accelerometer)
Accelerometers will be placed on the assistive devices. The method is currently being validated in the laboratory and will be finalized before initiation of the 1 year follow-up measurement. Accelerations of a certain time frame will be defined as "use", whereas brief accelerations will be considered as noise
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Pain intensity (VAS scale)
Pain intensity in the low-back is rated subjectively using a 0-10 modified VAS scale, where 0 indicates "no pain at all" and 10 indicate "worst pain imaginable"
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Perceived physical exertion (Borg CR10 scale)
Perceived physical exertion during patient handling. Borg CR10 scale
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Back injury
The specific question reads: "Have you within the last 12 months injured your back during patient transfer? (Think of situation where the pain appeared suddenly and unexpectedly)." The respondent replies "yes" or "no"
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Work ability (Index questionnaire)
The full Work Ability Index questionnaire (Ilmarinen)
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Social capital (Questionnaire)
Questionnaire concerning bonding, bridging, linking A, and linking B social capital (Andersen LL 2015 Scandinavian Journal of Public Health)
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Knowledge (Questionnaire)
Specific questionnaire about knowledge about patients transfer and safety at work
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Organizational Readiness to Change (Questionnaire)
Questionnaire about Organizational Readiness to Change
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
Use of assistive devices (Questionnaire)
Questionnaire about frequency of use of the different types of assistive devices
Time frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up
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