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The use of logs to assess exposure to manual handling of patients, illustrated in an intervention study in home care nursing.

Knibbe, J.J., Friele, R.D. The use of logs to assess exposure to manual handling of patients, illustrated in an intervention study in home care nursing. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics: 1999, 24(4), p. 445-454.
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This article approaches the option of logging lifting activities by nurses in patient care. Practical problems in nursing limit the use of direct observation and measurements to assess exposure to lifting in real life settings. Indications were found that logs registering the frequency of manual handling could be an option in nursing. The development of a log is accounted for and its use during an intervention, introducing 40 patient hoists in home care, is described. The exposure to manual handling was reduced significantly in the intervention group (average number of patient transfers per nurse/week (ptn/w) 35-21). The control group remained stable (ptn/w 24-24). The reduction of exposure was only partly due to the hoists substituting manual transfers, suggesting the presence of an eliminating effect. Possible explanations indicating that the hoists were partly responsible for this are: 1. The patients' relatives could now perform the transfers with the hoists; 2. Hoists combine several manual transfers into one mechanical transfer; 3. Hoists require only one operator for manual transfers that require two nurses; The log pointed to unpredicted elimination effects in addition to the substitution effects, and provided detailed information for evaluating the intervention. Relevance to industry: Assessment of exposure to manual handling, using a frequency-oriented log, appears to provide relevant information for designing back pain prevention policies in nursing. Insight is given into the effects fo an intervention using hoists. With some adaptions, the log could monitor ergonomic policies in nursing practice on a routine basis. (aut.ref.)