The Prevalence and Ergonomic factors Associated with Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Non-healthcare workers

Prevalence and Ergonomic factors Associated with Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Non-healthcare workers

Abstract

EXTENDED ABSTRACT

            Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders was  declared  to  be  a  major health problem among Thai workers in 2015-2019. Most Non-healthcare workers in hospital have performed constant working with long standing and awkward positions for more than eight hours per day. The survey in this research study aimed to determine prevalence and associated Ergonomic factors of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders among Non-healthcare workers who standing and moving at work in Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi Province. Ergonomic factors consisted of workers, equipments, work environment and working conditions. The sample in this research were 72 Non-healthcare workers in hospital who didn’t have history of Musculoskeletal Disorders from injury and illness which weren’t classified as Work Related Musculoskeletal disorders. The participants in 5 departments consisted of 14 laundry service workers, 21 Nutrition workers, 19 Patient transport workers, 9 Central Sterile Supply workers and 9 Logistic center workers.

            This cross-sectional study was conducted  from February to March 2021, after obtaining ethical approval from the Human Resource Research Ethics Committee of Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital (IRB-BHUBEJHR-176). The research instrument used was a self-admi nistered questionnaire covering 6 parts; demographic informations, equipments informations, work environment informations, Work conditions informations, The Standard Nordic Questionaire and Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA). The Standard Nordic Questionaire was used to explore the musculoskeletal disorders. Researcher  observed working postures of sample group by using REBA. Data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics to describe all variables. Chi-Square test was applied to identify the relationship between Ergonomic factors and Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders. Associations with p-value < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

               The results revealed that Non-healthcare workers had average age 43.9 years (SD = 9.66 years). There were more men than women. Most of them were 77.8% right-handed. They had equipments to lifting and moving patients (69.4%). However, they didn’t have automated equipments (75.0%). Average working time in their departments was 5 years. (Median = 3; IQR =14.5). The prevalence of Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the past 7 days and 6 months were 83.3%, 94.4%. The most of disorders found at lower back in the past 7 days and 6 months were 55.6% and 61.1% respectively Most of REBA risk score level of non-healthcare workers were moderate. Non-healthcare workers who didn’t used automated equipments had higher Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the past 7 days more than Non-healthcare workers who used automated equipments. There was a statistically significants (p-value < 0.03; Chi-square). The departments was significantly correlated with Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the past 6 months (p-value < 0.03; Chi-square). However, there was no significant correlation between departments and REBA risk score level of non-healthcare workers (p-value=0.096; Kruskal-Wallis equality-of-population rank test)

            The results from this study provided informations for the healthcare team, which can facilitate an  understanding  of  Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders prevention. Therefore, there must be the improve ment of working conditions, providing enough automated equipments to Non-healthcare workers, deserving compaign programes and follow-up Ergonomic factors assessment to prevent and reduce Work Related Musculoskeletal Disorders in the hospital.