An Ergonomic Training With Exercise Program for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Hemodialysis Nurse (WMSD)

An Ergonomic Training With Exercise Program for Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders Among Hemodialysis Nurse

This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of the 12-week ergonomic intervention developed by Person-Environment-Occupation (PEO) model in improving musculoskeletal discomfort and muscle strength for hemodialysis nurses. The maintenance effects of the intervention were also evaluated after another 12-week follow-up.

Methods A cluster experimental design was used to conduct this study. Participants were recruited from hemodialysis units at two medical centers in Taiwan and had complaints of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) within the past six months. By PEO model, the 12-week intervention including ergonomic education and exercise program was designed based on the job contents of hemodialysis nurses. In the study period, we used a mobile massager app to reminder them and monitor their implementation of exercises. The outcome indicators were measured before and after intervention as well as the follow-up after another 12 weeks. A generalized estimating equations model was adopted to analyze the repeated measurements.

self reported by Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (0-5 points; the higher score indicates the more discomfort)

grip and pinch power; the muscle strength of neck extension, shoulder flexion/extension, and wrist flexion/extension of the dominant (maximal force of the muscles movement against in kilograms, the higher the stronger)

self reported by Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (0-5 points; the higher score indicates the more discomfort)

grip and pinch power; the muscle strength of neck extension, shoulder flexion/extension, and wrist flexion/extension of the dominant (maximal force of the muscles movement against in kilograms, the higher the stronger)

self reported by Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (0-5 points; the higher score indicates the more discomfort)

grip and pinch power; the muscle strength of neck extension, shoulder flexion/extension, and wrist flexion/extension of the dominant (maximal force of the muscles movement against in kilogram, the higher the stronger)

World Health Organization Quality of Life, Brief edition, Taiwan version (1-5, higher score for higher quality of life)

World Health Organization Quality of Life, Brief edition, Taiwan version (1-5, higher score for higher quality of life)

Inclusion Criteria: 20 to 65 years old, which is the legal age range of adult for work in Taiwan registered nurses to work full time in the hemodialysis unit more than 6 months, having complaint of WMSDs within previous 6 months before this study. Exclusion Criteria: having no musculoskeletal disorder related to the job to care less than 4 patients in 4 hours, which was below the Taiwan workload reference for nurse in hemodialysis job to have any other consideration to keep from 12- week physical exercise program (such as pregnancy, injury, disease, leave…, etc.).