Effects of Ergonomics Training on Mechanical Performance in Nursing Students

Abstract

Although many training interventions have been used, the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders has risen significantly recent years. Early training intervention is an important key to prevent musculoskeletal disorders while lifting, lowering, pulling and transferring during work among nursing students. A training course, including anatomic knowledge, basic biomechanical principles and nursing clinical practice, was designed and carried out among the nursing students while learning fundamental nursing using a randomized controlled trial. Compared with control group, the scores of intervention group in the two evaluations were evidently higher at the end of practice and six-month follow-up. But they were obviously lower in six-month follow-up assessment than the marks at the end of training. The results showed that the training intervention distinctly ameliorated the mechanical properties of the body in the skill practice among the nursing students in a short time, but the effect wears off as time passed. The study suggested that nursing professionals should emphasize and repeat training interventions to achieve the long-term effects of musculoskeletal disorders.