Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent Musculoskeletal Disorders among District Hospital Nurses in Vietnam

Abstract

Background. Nurses are one of the population groups with the highest prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). Preventive measures in Vietnamese hospitals on the job have not been proposed to study their effectiveness due to barriers related to the lack of knowledge about MSDs by health care administrators and the lack of human resources with expertise in MSD management in hospitals. Objectives. This study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of basic interventions (education, physical exercise) to prevent MSDs among district hospital nurses in Vietnam. Material and Methods. A quasi-experimental study was carried out before/after over a period of one year among two groups of nurses, one receiving the intervention ( n = 162 ) and the other the control group ( n = 128 ). The intervention includes 3 components: training on MSDs, ergonomics training, and instructions for physical exercise. The pre- and postintervention assessment tools included the Modified Nordic, Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Short-Form (Q-LES-Q-SF), and the Kessler Psychological Distress Questionnaire (K6). A generalized estimating equation analysis was performed to assess the difference between the two groups at two points in time (before and after the intervention) on some indicators (prevalence of MSDs in the last 12 months and 7 days, score for quality of life and psychological distress). Results. There was a significant difference of the test on the prevalence of MSDs in the last 7 days between the 2 groups before and after the intervention with the p value = 0.016 . This difference occurred in 4 anatomical sites: neck, shoulder/upper arm, wrists/hand, and lower back, with p values being 0.013, 0.011, 0.038, and 0.009, respectively. Conclusions. The intervention measures are probably effective in reducing the prevalence of MSDs at 4 anatomical sites in the last 7 days. More in-depth studies are needed with a combination of measures over a longer period of time to obtain stronger evidence of interventions.

The Effect of Interventions on Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries Related to Nurses Work: Systematic Review

“…Only two programs involved the management chain [ 27 , 32 ], and the results show an impact of the intervention in reducing the incidence of injuries and absenteeism, which reinforces the authors’ recommendations for the development of a safety culture in institutions providing care for health, ensuring knowledge, skills, and competencies for the prevention of injuries in its professionals [ 36 , 38 , 40 ]. Although organizational cultural changes take time, this is equally applicable to safety culture [ 40 ], and it’s urgent that healthcare provider settings are increasingly dynamic work environments that benefit from strong organizational programs, policies, and practices around risk identification and reduction [ 39 ].…”

“…The studies included in this SR allow us to answer the research question. As can be seen in Table 6 , the researchers associated two or more interventions [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], the most frequent being the training-handling devices, with the aim of training nurses to use the equipment for mobilization and/or patient transfer [ 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], thus controlling the major risk factor for injuries.…”

“…Eleven studies associate training-handling devices with ergonomics education [ 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 36 ] and information on risk factors, use of mechanical devices, and use of the principles of body mechanics during the use of mechanical means, but also in carrying out other activities.…”

“…This SR made it possible to identify which interventions prevent MDRW in nurses and synthesize the evidence on which interventions were implemented, their feasibility, and their impact on different outcomes, with special relevance to the prevalence of MDRW. This type of injury is a global and transversal problem in almost all professions, but it assumes a worrying incidence and prevalence among health professionals, especially in nurses [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 ] due to the very nature of the professional activity, with the need to mobilize and transfer patients with a high degree of dependence, performing activities in positions that imply dorsiflexion and torsion of the spine, lifting weights above the recommended for the anthropometric characteristics of the professional [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ], few rest periods between activities that demand of high physical effort, or the maintenance of painful postures for a long time [ 37 , 38 , 39 ].…”

“…The studies included reinforce the importance of programs aimed at learning the correct handling of patients and/or using the principles of biomechanics in carrying out this activity [ 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 36 ], the use of mechanical means that reduce overload, and the associated risk [ 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ], including the policy of no manual lifting [ 27 ]. These data are consistent with the recommendations of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which recommends the increased availability of assistive devices and the use of even the most basic assistive devices as an integral part of safe patient handling [ 40 ].…”