Debunking the manual handling myth: An investigation of manual handling knowledge and practices in the Australian private health sector

Abstract

Nursing care involves complex patient handling tasks. Strategies to address associated manual handling issues commonly include training programmes, despite conflicting evidence regarding training efficacy for manual handling injury reduction. Resultant knowledge acquisition and skills transfer from training programmes are prerequisites for subsequent practice changes in the clinical setting. This paper draws upon the findings from a questionnaire completed by 100 nurses in an Australian private hospital in 2008. A substantial knowledge deficit was identified, despite previous training undertaken by participants. A striking finding was that although 82% (n = 82) of nurses surveyed believed they used safe manual handling practices, only 18% (n = 15) of these nurses correctly answered items assessing manual handling knowledge. The study suggests prudence in the assumption of skills and knowledge acquisition during manual handling training. It informs the development of future implementation strategies, and provides a contributory explanation for the limited application of recommended practices after training completion.

Manual Handling in Aged Care: Impact of Environment-related Interventions on Mobility

“…The least effective risk control strategies involve administrative strategies such as manual handling training. Despite being the most frequently used control, research has consistently demonstrated that manual handling training has failed to reduce injury incidence [22] , [23] , [24] . For example, an evaluation of an MHP training intervention in a Swedish hospital 3 years after implementation demonstrated no reduction in MSD incidence [22] .…”

Evaluation of Occupational Risk Factors for Healthcare Workers through Analysis of the Florida Workers’ Compensation Claims Database

“…This type of intervention assumes that lifting is a specialized skill to be performed only by expert professional patient movers who have been thoroughly trained in the latest lifting device techniques [11]. Better training for CNAs and nurses in good lifting and handling techniques may be called for as it has previously been reported that although 82% of nurses surveyed believed they used safe manual handling practices, only 18% of these 106 nurses correctly answered items assessing manual handling knowledge [12].…”

Learning manual handling without direct supervision or support: a case study of home care workers

“…This kind of engagement and pathway to the occupation lends itself to blurring the boundaries between unpaid work in the private domain and paid care work which, although in the public sphere, is performed in the relative isolation and privacy of clients' homes. Perhaps not surprising then, are the high rates of musculoskeletal injuries (predominantly back injuries) associated with manual handling in the health and community services sector (Clemes, Haslam & Haslam, 2010;Kay & Glass, 2011). More specifically, concerns about the efficacy of manual-handling training for care workers have been frequently raised, particularly in relation to its duration, content, and ongoing support (Bernoth, 2009;Faucett, Kang & Newcomer, 2013;Markannen et al, 2014).…”