Hignett S
Occupational and environmental medicine. Date of publication 2003 Sep 1;volume 60(9):E6.
1. Occup Environ Med. 2003 Sep;60(9):E6. doi: 10.1136/oem.60.9.e6.
Intervention strategies to reduce musculoskeletal injuries associated with
handling patients: a systematic review.
Hignett S(1).
Author information:
(1)Department of Human Sciences, Loughborough University, Leicestershire LE11
3TU, UK. S.M.Hignett@lboro.ac.uk
AIMS: To report, analyse, and discuss the results of a systematic review looking
at intervention strategies to reduce the risk factors associated with patient
handling activities.
METHODS: A search strategy was devised to seek out research between 1960 and
2001. Inclusion/exclusion criteria limited the entry of papers into the review
process. A checklist was selected and modified to include a wide range of study
designs. Inter-rater reliability was established between six reviewers before
the main review process commenced. Each paper was read by two reviewers and
given a quality rating score, with any conflicts being resolved by a third
reviewer. Papers were grouped by category: multifactor, single factor, and
technique training based interventions.
RESULTS: A total of 2796 papers were found, of which 880 were appraised. Sixty
three papers relating to interventions are reported in this paper. The results
are reported as summary statements with the associated evidence level (strong,
moderate, limited, or poor).
CONCLUSION: There is strong evidence that interventions predominantly based on
technique training have no impact on working practices or injury rates.
Multifactor interventions, based on a risk assessment programme, are most likely
to be successful in reducing risk factors related to patient handling
activities. The seven most commonly used strategies are identified and it is
suggested that these could be used to form the basis of a generic intervention
programme, with additional local priorities identified through the risk
assessment process. Health care providers should review their policies and
procedures in light of these findings.
DOI: 10.1136/oem.60.9.e6
PMCID: PMC1740617
PMID: 12937202 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
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