A physiotherapy-directed occupational health programme for Austrian school teachers: a cluster randomised pilot study

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Physiotherapy Interventions
• Educational Ergonomics

Background:

• Physiotherapists advocate workplace health, but school teachers are an understudied group.
• Teaching presents unique occupational health challenges impacting general health and ergonomics.
• Physiotherapy interventions can address and prevent these teacher-specific health issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To pilot a physiotherapy-guided occupational health program for school teachers.
• To develop and test study methodologies for this population.
• To gather preliminary data for a proof of concept, informing future research.

Main Methods:

• Cluster randomized pilot study involving 8 Austrian secondary schools.
• 26 teachers in the intervention group (IG) received a 6-session program on ergonomics and stress management.
• 43 teachers in the control group (CG) received a single education session.

Main Results:

• The Short-Form-36 (SF-36) physical component score showed deterioration in the CG.
• The IG demonstrated no change in the SF-36 physical component score.
• No significant changes were observed in mental health or well-being measures for either group.

Conclusions:

• A physiotherapy-directed occupational health program may prevent physical health deterioration in school teachers over one semester.
• This pilot study provides a proof of concept for such interventions.
• Findings will inform the design of future replication and extension studies in teacher occupational health.