Effectiveness of Participatory Ergonomic Interventions on Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders, Sick Absenteeism,...

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Ergonomics
• Nursing Research

Background:

• Nurses are at high risk for work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs).
• Participatory ergonomics (PE) is a promising approach for workplace health interventions.
• The effectiveness of PE for nurses' WMSDs and secondary outcomes remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the effectiveness of PE interventions in preventing WMSDs among nurses.
• To assess the impact of PE on sickness absence and work performance in nursing.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of literature from 2017-2023.
• Searches conducted in PubMed, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and PsycNet.
• PRISMA guidelines followed for study selection and analysis.

Main Results:

• 19 studies were included, identifying exercise, training, and patient handling devices as key interventions.
• Multicomponent interventions with physical activity/exercise showed significant WMSD risk reduction at 6 and 12 months.
• Most interventions had no significant effect on sickness absence or work performance; many studies had moderate to high risk of bias.

Conclusions:

• Multicomponent PE interventions, particularly those including physical activity and exercise, are effective for WMSD prevention in nurses.
• Long-term effects on WMSDs, sickness absence, and work performance need further study.
• Integrating organizational factors and policies into PE interventions may enhance outcomes and job satisfaction.