Working posture and its predictors in operating room nurses

Abstract

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate working posture of operating room nurses and its relationship with demographic and job details of this group. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 147 operating room nurses in Tabriz, Iran using a questionnaire and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) checklist. The data were analyzed with SPSS.16 using t test, Pearson correlation coefficient and analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests for univariate analysis and the linear regression test for multivariate analysis. Results: The mean (SD) of REBA score was 7.7 (1.9), which means a high risk level and highlights an urgent need to change the working postures of the studied nurses. There was significant relationship between working posture and age (P = 0.003), gender (P = 0.003), regular daily exercise (P = 0.048), work experience (P = 0.003), number of shifts per month (P = 0.006) and type of operating rooms (P < 0.001) in univariate analyses. Gender and type of operating room were the predictors of working posture of nurses in multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The findings highlight the need for ergonomic interventions and educational programs to improve working posture of this study population, which can consequently lead to promotion of health and well-being of this group.

Evaluation of the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in nurses: A systematic review

“…Gender, BMI and year of employment of nurses have implications for the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms [34,35]. The incidence of having at least one musculoskeletal symptoms elevated with age.…”

Differences in plantar pressure by REBA scores in dental hygienists

“…4,6,7 Studies of working posture in dental hygienists have frequently reported problems with maintaining a neutral position in different parts of the body, such as asymmetrical twisting or bilateral height differences in the shoulders or pelvis. [12][13][14] Plantar pressure was developed as a means of measuring the pressure exerted by the sole of the foot during walking and has recently been used as an index of shifts in centre of gravity and balance. [12][13][14] Plantar pressure was developed as a means of measuring the pressure exerted by the sole of the foot during walking and has recently been used as an index of shifts in centre of gravity and balance.…”

“…[8][9][10] The Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) 11 is an instrument that provides a comprehensive analysis of postural imbalance during working in the shoulders, neck, trunk, back, legs and knees; it is often used to assess working posture in healthcare workers, including dental hygienists. [12][13][14] Plantar pressure was developed as a means of measuring the pressure exerted by the sole of the foot during walking and has recently been used as an index of shifts in centre of gravity and balance. 15 Research on musculoskeletal disorders in dental hygienists has mostly depended on subjective symptoms or only assessed specific body parts.…”

Guideline for safe patient handling and movement

“…1 Prolonged standing is associated with lower extremity pain or discomfort, swelling, venous disorders, lower back pain, cardiovascular problems, fatigue, and pregnancy complications. 2,[5][6][7] When required to stand for prolonged periods, perioperative team members should use fatigue-reducing techniques, including antifatigue mats to cover hard flooring and standing stools, adjusting the height of the OR bed, ergonomic monitor placement, sit-stand stools, wearing supportive footwear (e.g., closed toed, shock-absorbing), and alternate propping of one foot on a stool. 1 Seven ergonomic tools for such tasks as patient repositioning and transfer maneuvers (e.g., lateral, prone to supine) or those that require prolonged standing or tissue retraction are provided in the full guideline.…”