Browsing by Author "Kolk, J.J."

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The effects of an ergonomic-educational course. Postural load, perceived physical exertion, and biomechanical errors in nursing.
Engels, J.A. ; Gulden, J.W. van der ; Senden, T.F. ; Kolk, J.J. ; Binkhorst, R.A.
1998, Article / Letter to editor (International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, vol. 71, iss. 5, (1998), pp. 336-342)OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the results of an ergonomic-educational course for nurses we assessed the number and percentage of harmful postures and of ergonomic and biomechanical errors made before and after the course. We also studied the perceived physical exertion. MEANS AND METHODS: In all, 12 nurses who had participated in the course (trainees) and 12 who had not (controls) were recorded on video while performing standardized nursing tasks. The wards from which the two groups of nurses came were comparable, as were the patient populations. The nurses were also comparable in some personal characteristics. The tasks they performed included washing, lifting, and repositioning a patient as well as certain tasks other than patient handling. Video recordings were made once before (1-2 weeks) and twice after the course (after 3 months and after 15 months). The harmful postures, the errors made, and the ratings of perceived exertion were measured by means of the Ovako Working-posture Analysis System (OWAS), a checklist, and Borg scores, respectively. RESULTS: When the first and last measurements of all the above tasks taken as a whole were analyzed the trainees showed a significant improvement in the number and percentage of harmful postures and errors, whereas the controls did not. The same could be concluded for lifting alone. After the course the new work routine did not appear to have caused any extra perceived physical exertion. CONCLUSION: It can be concluded that the course was successful, although it should be carefully investigated as to whether nurses remain capable of working safely in daily practice. The work pressure that nurses experience during their normal duties could prevent them from working safely during everyday work.
Physical work load and its assessment among the nursing staff in nursing homes.
Engels, J.A. ; Gulden, J.W. van der ; Senden, T.F. ; Hertog, C.A. ; Kolk, J.J. ; Binkhorst, R.A.
1994, Article / Letter to editor (Jom. Journal of Occupational Medicine, vol. 36, iss. 3, (1994), pp. 338-345)A study was conducted to investigate the physical work load and the prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints of nurses in nursing homes. Thirty-six female subjects selected from three nursing homes in the Netherlands participated in an observational study. In addition, the total nursing staff (n = 668) was invited to take part in a questionnaire survey (response was 94%). It was noticed that almost 60% of the observed time was spent on nonpatient-related activities. Moreover, activities alternated rapidly and seldom lasted longer than 4 minutes on average. Twenty percent of the observed time was spent in "poor" work postures as defined by the Ovako Working Posture Analyzing System (Action Category 2 to 4). Activities contributing most to these poor work postures were patient care and household and preliminary tasks. Perceived exertion as scored on the Borg-CR10 scale was highest during patient-related activities. This holds also for a relative increase of heart rate. Questionnaire results showed prevalences of 41%, 35%, and 20% respectively, for back, arm/neck, and leg complaints. From this study it can be concluded that not only patient-related activities should be taken into consideration for the improvement of work postures and other potential strenuous aspects of nursing work. Household and preliminary tasks, ergonomic layout of the ward, and work pressure also deserve attention.

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