Lower Back Injury
Conditions
Keywords
Safe Patient Handling, Safe Lifting, Injury Prevention., Program Outcome Evaluation
Brief summary
This project involves the delivery of education and training sessions to Seven Oaks General Hospital (SOGH) staff, with the goal of workplace injury prevention. Education will include review of provincial safe patient handling and back injury prevention guidelines and review of core fitness competencies required to comply with injury prevention standards. Training sessions will include exercises to improve core, gluteal and quadricep strength, hip/knee mobility and hamstring flexibility. Training will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on functional movement performance. Outcomes will include questionnaires on: low back pain/dysfunction; movement confidence; work injury rates and participant satisfaction with program. The project will advise stakeholders of the benefits and challenges associated with implementation of a fitness program to support safe patient handling techniques, as outlined in the provincial guidelines for healthcare workers.
Detailed description
The Fit for Work Project is an educational and training program outcome evaluation. It is a two-part education and practical program designed to evaluate the effects of training on movement confidence, low back dysfunction and changes in rates of lower back injury. In the first part, participants will attend the education session developed by physiotherapists who specialize in return to work programs. In the second part participants will participate in a 4-week practical program, where they will stretch, lengthen and strengthen key muscles used in squatting, weight shifting and the hip hinge movement. Feedback and movement coaching are an important element in performing and mastering these movements correctly and this workplace wellness training program will provide staff the support needed.
Interventions
OTHERAn Educational and Training Program
Education and practical training program designed to evaluate the effects of training on movement confidence, low back dysfunction and changes in rates of lower back injury
Sponsors
The Wellness Institute Powered by Seven Oaks General Hospital
Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
Seven Oaks General Hospital
University of Manitoba
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
A two-part education and practical program designed to evaluate the effects of training on movement confidence, low back dysfunction and changes in rates of lower back injury. SPSS software will be used to analyze mean differences between self-report questionnaire scores regarding low back pain/dysfunction at baseline and post-program using paired t-tests (p\<0.05). Paired t-tests will be used to determine if there is a statistical difference in back injury rates at Seven Oaks Hospital one year post-program, compared to previous years. The results of the post-program survey will be summarized using descriptive statistics. Information from baseline movement confidence questionnaires will also be summarized using descriptive statistics and compared pre and post programming. \*Note: Before t-test analyses is performed the distribution of scores will be checked to determine if they are normal. If not, non-parametric tests equivalent to paired t-tests will be used.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Male or female, age 18 years or older * Staff of Seven Oaks General Hospital during the time of the program * Able to communicate in English and provide written informed consent
Exclusion criteria
* An acute injury, a medical condition, or other personal reason inhibiting participation in all 4 weeks of exercise training sessions
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change from baseline in staff confidence in performing the core fitness competencies required to abide by safe patient handling, safe lifting and back injury prevention guidelines | At the beginning of the program (baseline), at week 4 (the end of the 4-week training program), and one year after completion of the training program | A Movement Confidence Questionnaire will be used, asking participants to rate their confidence as either 1-Very Low, 2-Low, 3-Moderate, 4-High, 5-Very High in completing 10 different movements without difficulty: 1. Get down to and back up from the floor without using support 2. Walk continuously for 1 hour 3. Balance on 1 foot for 30 seconds 4. Bend over to clean the bath tub 5. Move the fridge to clean behind it 6. Lift a 24 pack of water bottles off the floor 7. Place carry-on luggage in overhead bin on airplane 8. Lift a heavy suitcase in and out of the trunk of a car. 9. Carry 2 heavy bags of groceries 100 ft or 30 m 10. Shovel snow from a 1 car driveway. |
| Change from baseline in severity of low back pain and/or dysfunction | At the beginning of the program (baseline), at week 4 (the end of the 4-week training program), and one year after completion of the training program | Measured as change from baseline in the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale (Designed to evaluate functional limitations related to pain, to monitor the progress of individual patients and to compare the evolution of lower back pain (LBP) subjects incorporated in rehabilitation programs) |
| Change from baseline in incidence of back injuries | At the beginning of the program (baseline), and 1 year after completion of the 4-week training program | Measured as change in the number of new low back injuries or flare-ups of existing back conditions sustained in the past year. |
| Change from baseline in frequency of back injuries | At the beginning of the program (baseline), and 1 year after completion of the 4-week training program | Measured as the number of new low back injuries or flare-ups of existing back conditions sustained at work in the past year. |
| Change from baseline in time loss cost of back injuries | At the beginning of the program (baseline), and 1 year after completion of the 4-week training program | Measured as the duration of time away from work due to low back pain/injury. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Benefits and challenges associated with implementation of a fitness program to support safe patient handling and safe lifting techniques, as outlined in the provincial and regional guidelines for healthcare workers | Collected at week 4 (at the end of the 4-week training program) | A Program Exit Questionnaire will be administered to collect participant experiences and views on the benefits and challenges associated with the program. |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed