Health status and ergonomics education: A comparison between student nurses and first-year nursing staff

To (a) compare student nurses' health status and levels of ergonomics knowledge and awareness to those of first-year nursing staff and (b) investigate the association between nurses' ergonomic compliance and health status with their educational preparedness.

This cohort study compared ergonomics awareness and knowledge, and health status of nurses when they were students and after their first-year working in medical facilities.

In total, 133 4th-year student nurses completed a survey; 45 of them completed a second survey after working 1 year in a medical facility. Their health status was compared over time using repeated-measures ANOVA. Correlation tests were used to analyse associations between ergonomics knowledge and awareness, health status, demographic variables and educational preparedness.

Respondents in both surveys displayed weak knowledge of ergonomic principles significantly associated with increased pain intensity and educational preparedness.

Ergonomics training should be expanded during nursing studies and first-year training to prevent long-term health disorders.