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Reducing risk for back pain in nursing personnel
Summary
Nursing assistants find transferring clients from toilet to wheelchair highly stressful. Using a walking belt during transfers is the least stressful and most comfortable method for both staff and patients.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Ergonomics
- Nursing Practice
Background:
- Patient transfers, particularly from toilet to wheelchair, are a significant source of stress for nursing assistants.
- The L5S1 disc compressive forces during these transfers exceed safe limits set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
- Existing mechanical aids and manual transfer techniques require evaluation for their impact on caregiver and patient well-being.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify the most stressful patient transfer tasks in nursing homes.
- To compare the stress and comfort levels associated with different transfer methods, including mechanical hoists and manual techniques.
- To determine the safest and most comfortable transfer method for nursing staff and clients.
Main Methods:
- Nursing assistants ranked the stress levels associated with various client transfer tasks.
- Biomechanical analysis measured compressive forces on the L5S1 disc during toilet-to-wheelchair transfers.
- Subjective feedback on stress and comfort was collected for different transfer methods, including mechanical hoists and manual techniques with and without a walking belt.
Main Results:
- Toilet-to-wheelchair transfers were identified as the most stressful task for nursing assistants.
- Calculated L5S1 disc compressive forces surpassed NIOSH-recommended safe limits.
- The walking belt manual transfer method was perceived as significantly less stressful and more comfortable than other manual methods and two of three mechanical hoists.
Conclusions:
- Manual transfers using a walking belt offer a less stressful and more comfortable alternative for nursing staff and clients during toilet-to-wheelchair transfers.
- Current transfer protocols may expose nursing staff to unacceptable biomechanical risks.
- Further research and implementation of ergonomic best practices, such as the use of walking belts, are recommended to improve safety and reduce stress in nursing care.