Effectiveness of Ergonomics Education Program combined with Muscle Stretching on Behavior to Prevent Muscle Pain, Muscle Pain and Physical Fitness of Registered Nurses with Work Related Muscle Pain in Hospital
Keywords:
Ergonomics Education, Muscle Stretching, Muscle Pain, Registered NursesAbstract
This quasi-experimental research aimed to examine the effectiveness of an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching exercises on preventive behaviors for muscle pain, muscle pain symptoms, and physical fitness among registered nurses experiencing work-related muscle pain in hospitals. The sample consisted of 82 registered nurses with work-related muscle pain, selected through simple random sampling. The research intervention included an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching exercises, guidelines for managing work-related muscle pain based on protocol WI-OCC–002, a handbook on ergonomics and stretching exercises, and a nursing supervision plan on managing muscle pain. Data was collected using a questionnaire on ergonomics knowledge, a scale assessing preventive behaviors for muscle pain, a muscle pain symptom record, and a physical fitness test record. The validity of the instrument was assessed by five experts. The reliability coefficients for the ergonomics knowledge questionnaire and preventive behavior questionnaire were 0.79 and 0.96, respectively. Descriptive statistics were used for general data analysis, and a paired t-test was employed to compare differences between pre- and post-intervention.
The results showed that after the intervention, the participants had significantly higher mean scores for ergonomics knowledge, preventive behaviors for muscle pain, mean flexibility, and mean muscle strength compared to before the intervention (t = 22.30, p-value < 0.001; t = 17.89, p-value < 0.001; t = 10.01, p-value < 0.001; t = 10.40, p-value < 0.001). Additionally, the mean score for muscle pain symptoms significantly decreased after the intervention (t = -17.21, p-value < 0.001). These findings indicate that the ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching exercises effectively improved ergonomics knowledge, preventive behaviors, reduced muscle pain symptoms, and enhanced flexibility and muscle strength. This program can be adapted for use by healthcare workers or other professions with similar work conditions.
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