Incidence Rate Of Musculoskeletal Disorders Research Articles

Examination of Musculoskeletal System Disorders and Ergonomic Conditions in the Work Environment of Academics Providing Distance Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Controlled Study.

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate whether the incidence rate of musculoskeletal system disorders changed owing to the increase in the time spent on the computer by academics who did or did not provide distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire was used to assess musculoskeletal discomfort experienced in the past 1 week. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Computer Workstations Evaluation Checklist was used to assess the ergonomic structure of the work environment. The questionnaire assessed musculoskeletal system disorders and collected demographic characteristics. RESULTS The study group included 184 (101 male, 83 female) academics who provided distance education, whereas the control group included 82 (44 male, 38 female) academics who did not provide distance education. The mean ages of academics in the study group and control group were 37.46±7.34 and 41.26±10.06 years, respectively. Although computer-based work environment ergonomics were similar (P>0.05) in both groups during the pandemic, the incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders was significantly high in the study group (P<0.001). These disorders were mostly seen in the neck, back, and waist regions (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The results suggested that the incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders increased in academics who provided distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acceptability of Using a Robotic Nursing Assistant in Health Care Environments: Experimental Pilot Study.

BackgroundAccording to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, nurses will be the largest labor pool in the United States by 2022, and more than 1.1 million nursing positions have to be filled by then in order to avoid a nursing shortage. In addition, the incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders in nurses is above average in comparison with other occupations. Robot-assisted health care has the potential to alleviate the nursing shortage by automating mundane and routine nursing tasks. Furthermore, robots in health care environments may assist with safe patient mobility and handling and may thereby reduce the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders.ObjectiveThis pilot study investigates the perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness (acceptability) of a customized service robot as determined by nursing students (as proxies for nursing staff in health care environments). This service robot, referred to as the Adaptive Robotic Nurse Assistant (ARNA), was developed to enhance the productivity of nurses through cooperation during physical tasks (eg, patient walking, item fetching, object delivery) as well as nonphysical tasks (eg, patient observation and feedback). This pilot study evaluated the acceptability of ARNA to provide ambulatory assistance to patients.MethodsWe conducted a trial with 24 participants to collect data and address the following research question: Is the use of ARNA as an ambulatory assistive device for patients acceptable to nurses? The experiments were conducted in a simulated hospital environment. Nursing students (as proxies for nursing staff) were grouped in dyads, with one participant serving as a nurse and the other acting as a patient. Two questionnaires were developed and administrated to the participants based on the Technology Acceptance Model with respect to the two subscales of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use metrics. In order to evaluate the internal consistency/reliability of the questionnaires, we calculated Cronbach alpha coefficients. Furthermore, statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate the relation of each variable in the questionnaires with the overall perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use metrics.ResultsBoth Cronbach alpha values were acceptably high (.93 and .82 for perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use questionnaires, respectively), indicating high internal consistency of the questionnaires. The correlation between the variables and the overall perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use metrics was moderate. The average perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use metrics among the participants were 4.13 and 5.42, respectively, out of possible score of 7, indicating a higher-than-average acceptability of this service robot.ConclusionsThe results served to identify factors that could affect nurses’ acceptance of ARNA and aspects needing improvement (eg, flexibility, ease of operation, and autonomy level).

Determination of Risk Factors for Musculoskeletal Disorders and Corrective Priorities to Perform the Work in Dental Careers by Posture Analysis Using REBA in Shahrekord

Background and aims: Nowadays, work-related musculoskeletal disorders are the most common occupational diseases. The prevention of these disorders requires a posture analysis during work and the improvement of working conditions. The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for musculoskeletal disorders and corrective priorities to perform the work by conducting postures analysis using Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, the posture of dentists during working was analyzed using the REBA software. The incidence rate of musculoskeletal disorders was investigated by the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ). A P value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: In this applied study, the incidence rates of the pain in neck, waist, shoulders, and wrists were reported to be 68%, 55%, 41% and 28%, respectively. The above-mentioned values were higher in women than in men. The pain in thigh and leg was related to work and the pain in ankle and sole was related to body mass index (BMI). The relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and occupational postures of dentists was statistically significant (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: Training the principles of ergonomics and anthropometrics, the correct methods and principles of performing work, and the ways of using the instruments are necessary for the studied population. Occupational postures require ergonomic intervention and correction.

Musculoskeletal disorders among nursing personnel in Korea

This study examines the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) among nursing personnel in Korea. A self-reporting survey adapted from the Nordic questionnaires was used as the diagnostic tool. The survey was performed four times, once every three months for a year. The MSDs were defined using three criteria, based on the frequency, duration and pain intensity of the symptoms. The results showed that the 12-month prevalences of MSDs in at least one body site by criteria 1, 2 and 3 were 56.8%, 53.7% and 45.7%, respectively, and that the shoulder was the most susceptible to MSDs, followed by the knee, lower back, hand/wrist, neck, ankle/feet, finger, etc. The ward or unit in which the participants worked was the only statistically significant risk factor identified through the χ 2 test. The prevalence of MSDs was the highest in the intensive care unit, and second in the surgical ward, while it was the lowest in the emergency room. The MSD prevalences in Korea were much lower than those in other countries such as Japan, the USA, Sweden, etc. This implies that when considering poor working conditions and low awareness of MSDs compared to more advanced countries, the incidence rate of MSDs may rapidly increase in Korea in the future. Relevance to industry Nursing profession is one of the most physically demanding jobs in industries, which results in high prevalence of MSDs. For establishing preventative measures of MSDs, the status of MSDs should be investigated.

종합 병원 간호사의 근골격계질환 실태 조사

The objective of this study is to examine the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) among nursing personnels. A self-reporting survey adapted from Nordic questionnaires was used as diagnostic tool, and conducted for 162 nurses working for a general hospital. The survey was performed five times every three months during a year. The MSDs were defined by using three criteria, depending upon the frequency, duration and pain intensity of the symptoms. The results showed that the 12-month prevalences of MSDs at any body site by criterion 1, 2, 3 were 56.8%, 53.7%, 45.7%, respectively, and that the shoulder was the most susceptible to MSDs, followed by knee/lower leg, lower back, hand/wrist, neck, ankle/feet, finger, etc. Only one statistically significant risk factor of departments or units was identified through the Chi-square test. The prevalence of MSDs was the highest in intensive care unit, second in surgical ward, while the prevalence was the lowest in emergency room. The MSDs prevalence of Korea at any body part or by body part was much lower than that of foreign countries such as Japan, USA, Sweden, etc. This implies that when considering poor working conditions and load in Korea, the incidence rate of MSDs may rapidly increase in Korea in the future.