Reducing Musculoskeletal Pains of Operating Theatre Nurses. In: Bagnara S, Tartaglia R, Albolino S, Alexander T, Fujita Y, editors. Proceedings of the 20th Congress of the International Ergonomics Association (IEA 2018). Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019. pp. 351-9. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-96083-8_47]

Physical and psychological strain in upper Austrian elementary school teachers - an observational study

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are the main cause of pain leading to high economic burden and psychosocial disadvantages. In addition, psychological stress impacts the overall health as well as the quality of life. Elementary school teachers clearly are a cohort with a high risk of MSDs and stress. The 'BelaPrim' study was conducted to determine the physical and psychological conditions of elementary school teachers in Upper Austria and to investigate the influence of physical and psychological parameters on MSDs. Physical and mental strain was determined with the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and the 11-item short version of a German work-related behaviour and experience assessment (AVEM), respectively. Despite a high prevalence of MSDs, high scores were found on personality dimensions. Furthermore, qualitative results indicated the need of administrative/pedagogical support. A linear regression model showed that body height (+), work engagement (+), and emotions (-) are predictors for the occurrence of back pain.Practitioner summary: Despite a high proportion of physical complaints, Upper Austrian elementary school teachers show good mental health. Body height, a high work engagement, and low level of emotions are predictors for the occurrence of back pain. Health initiatives for elementary schools should have a multifactorial view to improve teachers' health.Abbreviations: BA: professional ambition; BE: willingness to spend; VB: striving for perfection PE: ability to distance; DF: tendency to resign in case of failure; RT: offensive problem-solving: OP; inner calm and balance; IR: experiencing success at work; EE: life satisfaction; LZ and SU: experiencing social support.

Development of an education scheme for improving perioperative nurses' competence in ergonomics

BACKGROUND

Perioperative nurses have several high-risk tasks. Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are severe problems, while preventive measures are mostly insufficient. The 'Ergonomic patient handling card®' education scheme was introduced in Finland in 2009 aimed at improving both nurses' and patients' safety. Experiences of this multicomponent program from the care units and home care are good; the physical workload and sickness absences due to MSDs are decreasing. As the perioperative nurses' work in operating rooms (OR) varies considerably from the work in care units, a special education scheme needed to be developed.

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to plan the 'Ergonomic patient handling card®' perioperative care education scheme [later pCard] and to define competencies, skills, and knowledge levels required to perform perioperative work safely, complying with legislative requirements, OR-safety and care quality.

METHODS

Using a focus group and risk assessments in the acute care hospital the most stressful tasks in ORs in Finland were defined. The planning of the pCard content was based on the risk analysis aimed at defining competencies to mitigate the physical risks and on the evaluation of two pilot courses.

RESULTS

The requested, approved corrections were incorporated into the new pCard scheme. Practical training emphazises working with safe methods and the safe usage of appropriate equipment.