Collins JW, Wolf L, Bell J, Evanoff B, et al.
Injury prevention : journal of the International Society for Child and Adolescent Injury Preven.... Date of publication 2004 Aug 1;volume 10(4):206-11.
1. Inj Prev. 2004 Aug;10(4):206-11. doi: 10.1136/ip.2004.005595.
An evaluation of a "best practices" musculoskeletal injury prevention program in
nursing homes.
Collins JW(1), Wolf L, Bell J, Evanoff B.
Author information:
(1)Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, Division of Safety Research, Morgantown, West
Virginia 26505, USA. JCollins@cdc.gov
OBJECTIVE: To conduct an intervention trial of a "best practices"
musculoskeletal injury prevention program designed to safely lift physically
dependent nursing home residents.
DESIGN: A pre-post intervention trial and cost benefit analysis at six nursing
homes from January 1995 through December 2000. The intervention was established
in January 1998 and injury rates, injury related costs and benefits, and
severity are compared for 36 months pre-intervention and 36 months
post-intervention.
PARTICIPANTS: A dynamic cohort of all nursing staff (n = 1728) in six nursing
homes during a six year study period.
INTERVENTION: "Best practices" musculoskeletal injury prevention program
consisting of mechanical lifts and repositioning aids, a zero lift policy, and
employee training on lift usage.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Injury incidence rates, workers' compensation costs, lost
work day injury rates, restricted work day rates, and resident assaults on
caregivers, annually from January 1995 through December 2000.
RESULTS: There was a significant reduction in resident handling injury
incidence, workers' compensation costs, and lost workday injuries after the
intervention. Adjusted rate ratios were 0.39 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.29
to 0.55) for workers' compensation claims, 0.54 (95% CI 0.40 to 0.73) for
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 200 logs, and 0.65 (95% CI
0.50 to 0.86) for first reports of employee injury. The initial investment of
$158 556 for lifting equipment and worker training was recovered in less than
three years based on post-intervention savings of $55 000 annually in workers'
compensation costs. The rate of post-intervention assaults on caregivers during
resident transfers was down 72%, 50%, and 30% based on workers' compensation,
OSHA, and first reports of injury data, respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: The "best practices" prevention program significantly reduced
injuries for full time and part time nurses in all age groups, all lengths of
experience in all study sites.
DOI: 10.1136/ip.2004.005595
PMCID: PMC1730104
PMID: 15314046 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
