Observing the Nursing Team Members’ Musculoskeletal Strains According to the OWAS Method
Keywords:
nursing care, musculoskeletal injuries, ergonomic technical aids, critical body positions, OWAS analysisAbstract
In nursing practice, there is an above-average number of musculoskeletal illnesses/injuries, and frequent absences from work, due to the latter. The aim is to investigate the nurses’ exposure to unfavourable critical physical positions/body strains in clinical practice, working with the usage and non-usage of ergonomic technical aids. Nursing personnel from seven different departments was observed. Through the Ovako Working posture Analysis System (OWAS), 15 critical body positions (n=15) were identified. The study included nursing personnel in the experimental group (n=28) and control group (n=28). Subjects were observed in the course of their work, performing daily nursing duties. Non-parametric Mann-Whitney test showed a statistically significant reduction of body strains in favour of using the ergonomic aids in 13 critical body positions. Within the 7.5-hour work shift, the use of ergonomic technical aids has decreased the overall strains to the nurses’ musculoskeletal system from 20.6% to 7.7%. The introduction and use of ergonomic aids in the clinical environment significantly reduces the incidence of critical body positions and biomechanical spine strains in nursing personnel.
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