The effect of educational intervention through sending emails on improving physical posture in female computer users of Eastern Iran: a quasi-experiment study

Abstract

BackgroundMusculoskeletal disorders are among the most common occupational injuries and disabilities in developing and industrialized countries. This study aims to determine the effectiveness of e-mail training to improve the physical posture of female computer users at Birjand University of Medical Sciences in Iran.MethodsThe present interventional research explores the effect of email-based training to correct the body posture of female computer users in Birjand, Iran. In this quasi-experiment, 120 women who worked in Birjand University of Medical Sciences using computers were selected through a census. 60 computer users were selected from the deputy of education and 60 from the deputy of development for the intervention group (IG) and control group (CG), respectively. A training program was developed on the ergonomics of office work (12 emails at an interval of 6 weeks). The data was collected using demographic, occupational information, and a knowledge assessment questionnaire. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) and Rapid Office Strain Assessment (ROSA) were used in both groups before the intervention and 6 months later.ResultsAfter the educational intervention, a significant increase was observed in the ergonomics knowledge of the IG compared to the control. The ROSA score was lowered from a high-risk to a low-and medium-risk level (p < 0.05). In the IG, 44 subjects (73.30%) who needed ergonomic intervention (a score above 5) were reduced to 10 subjects (16.70%) with a need for ergonomic intervention. According to NMQ, the highest frequency of pain in the IG and CG was related to the back (56.70% and 55%, respectively). The neck, shoulders, wrists, back and elbows were next.ConclusionsThis quasi-intervention study was conducted to determine the effect of email-based training on correcting female computer users’ body posture in 2022. Training ergonomics through email is a practical and acceptable way to improve ergonomic behaviors among computer users. It enables them to adapt to the workplace by applying the correct ergonomics, changing their work behavior to prevent occupational musculoskeletal disorders, and reduce risks and complications.