Effects of participatory ergonomic intervention program to reduce occupational risks among hospital orderlies

Abstract

Participatory Ergonomic (PE) initiatives have widely been used to improve work environments. The aim of this study was to develop a Participatory Ergonomic Intervention Program (PEIP) and assess its effects on the work environment and health of hospital orderlies. A randomized control trial (RCT) was conducted at a tertiary care hospital between July and December of 2014. 100 hospital orderlies participated in the study. 50 orderlies were assigned to the intervention group and 50 were assigned to a control group. The PEIP program consisted of multifaceted training sessions. Three workshops were conducted to address education, group training, supervised onsite training, establishment of management support, participant capacity strengthening, patient transfer techniques, and exercise programs. Data collection took place via self-reported questionnaires at baseline, two months, and four months post-intervention. Comparative analysis of the work environment and health outcomes was conducted through a t-test. Repeated measure analyses of variance, as well as Mann-Whiney U test, were also used. Results showed that physical work environment risk factors decreased in the intervention group when compared to the control group at two and four months post-intervention (p < .02). With regards to the psychosocial work environment: work pace, influence at work, possibilities for development, meaning of work, commitment to the workplace, predictability, role clarity, role conflicts, quality of leadership, and social support from supervisors all had p-values < .001; while social support from colleagues had a p-value < .05. The PEIP program resulted in increases to psychosocial promotion factors that were observed four months post-intervention. Increases were observed in: work pace, cognitive demands, demands for hiding emotions, commitment to the workplace, predictability, rewards, and social community at work (all p-values < .05). A questionnaire based on the Quick Exposure Check (QEC) was used to calculate work-related musculoskeletal risks. Two months after intervention, the PEIP program decreased risk exposure level scores including for the back (moving) (p < .005) and neck (p = .001). Mean scores from the QEC for the neck among the intervention group changed dramatically, from high to moderate. The PEIP program continued to decrease risk exposure scores four months after completion of the intervention. The reduction in score for the back (moving) (p < .005) was found to be significant. The intervention group requested no sick leave, while the control group had 2-day sick leave due to musculoskeletal problems. A slight increase in work ability in the intervention group was observed two months post-intervention, with a decrease four months post-intervention. In conclusion, findings demonstrated that the PEIP program contributed to a reduction of physical risk factors in the workplace. However, a longer-term study is needed to properly evaluate effects on health outcomes.