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Forces involved when sliding a patient up in bed.
Robert E Larson1, Elise M Murtagh2, Martin S Rice3
1Department of Exercise Science, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA.
Work (Reading, Mass.)
|April 10, 2018
Summary
Friction-reducing slide sheets significantly decrease hand forces during patient handling compared to standard cotton sheets. However, substantial force is still required, indicating a need for further innovation in patient handling methods.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Ergonomics
- Patient Handling Safety
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Manual patient handling tasks, such as sliding a patient up in bed, can exert significant forces on healthcare providers.
- The type of slide sheet used can influence the forces experienced during these maneuvers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the hand forces required when using three different types of slide sheets during simulated patient repositioning.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of friction-reducing slide sheets in reducing physical strain on caregivers.
Main Methods:
- Thirty-eight participants performed simulated patient sliding tasks using a reusable friction-reducing sheet (Arjo Maxislide), a disposable friction-reducing sheet (McAuley), and a standard cotton sheet.
- Hand forces were measured for each condition.
- A repeated measures ANOVA was employed to analyze the force data.
Main Results:
- Friction-reducing slide sheets significantly reduced the required hand forces compared to standard cotton sheets when used as recommended.
- One type of friction-reducing sheet also showed a significant force reduction compared to the cotton sheet.
- Despite reductions, considerable force was still exerted by participants.
Conclusions:
- The use of friction-reducing slide sheets is crucial for mitigating forces during manual patient handling.
- Further research is recommended to explore novel friction-reducing materials and methods, potentially in combination, to further minimize caregiver strain.
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