Enhancing nurses' well-being: the effect of ergonomic interventions on work-related musculoskeletal disorders

This study assessed the effectiveness of ergonomic interventions - physical ergonomics training and engineering interventions - in reducing the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms (WMSs) and improving posture among nurses in Iranian public hospitals.

The quasi-experimental study was conducted in 2023 at a public hospital, involving 218 nurses randomly assigned to four groups by wards: control (no intervention), group 1 (training), group 2 (engineering interventions) and group 3 (training + engineering interventions). Data were collected using the Persian Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort questionnaire (P-CMDQ), the Persian ergonomics screening and prioritizing tool (P-ESPT) and other tools. Outcomes were evaluated 4 months post intervention using SPSS version 17 with statistical tests (p < 0.05).

Baseline data showed 90.8% of nurses had WMSs, mainly affecting the neck (60.6%), lower back (59.9%) and feet (54.6%). Post intervention, the control group showed no change (P-CMDQ: p = 0.779; P-ESPT: p = 0.255). Group 1 had limited improvement (P-CMDQ: p = 0.107; P-ESPT: p < 0.001). Group 2 showed the greatest reductions (P-CMDQ: p < 0.001; P-ESPT: p < 0.001), followed by group 3 (P-CMDQ: p < 0.001; P-ESPT: p < 0.001).

Engineering interventions, supported by resources, most effectively reduced WMSs and risks. Training alone had limited impact due to workload and facility constraints. Combining both was also effective, emphasizing physical interventions in resource-limited settings.