Development of a model for modifying ergonomic behavior to prevent injuries from work of personnel in hospital

Abstract

Objective : This study aimed to Development of a model for modifying ergonomic behavior to prevent injuries from work of personnel at the Central Sterile Supply Department in Maha Sarakham Hospital

Methods : This research and development study were divided into 4 steps: 1) The current symptoms caused by incorrect ergonomics, 2) The development of guidelines for modification of self-efficacy and result expectancy in health behaviors, 3) The results of applying the guidelines for self-efficacy obtained by using the questionnaires to evaluate the knowledge, result expectancy and health behaviors, and 4) Assessment of these guidelines. The 37 participants were purposively selected from the staff in central payment center with more than 1-year working experience and no history in accident-related musculoskeletal injuries. This study was performed during June 2023 to March 2024 and the results were analyzed for percentage, mean, standard deviation, and compared by paired sample t-test.

Result : 1) The symptoms caused by incorrect ergonomics were pains in the shoulder, lower back, and neck, the fatigue after work was found occasionally, the most frequently reported symptoms were work-related stiffness, and most of the participants relieved their pain by self-massage; 2.The results after applying the guidelines showed that some participants still had pain in the shoulder (29.72%) and lower back (24.32%), they relieved the pain by self-massage (45.90%), and their latest painful episodes were at moderate level (score=3-5, 24.32%) and minimal level (score=1–2, 9.72%); 3. Application of the guidelines could increase the participants’ knowledge in ergonomics, health behaviors, and self-efficacy. Also, the participants were found to have significant lower risk in ergonomics and higher result expectancy at 0.01; 4) These guidelines received the highest level of satisfaction from the participants.
Conclusion : After applying the self-efficacy theory for behavior modification in working ergonomics, the participants Application of the guidelines could increase the participants’ knowledge in ergonomics, health behaviors, and self-efficacy. Also, the participants were found to have significant lower risk in ergonomics and higher result expectancy at 0.01; 4) These guidelines received the highest level of satisfaction from the participants.