Implementation of a Fitness Education and Training Program to Support Safe Patient Handling and Safe Lifting

University of Manitoba

Status: Completed

Conditions: Lower Back Injury

Treatments: Other: An Educational and Training Program

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05834959

HS25745 (H2022:355)

Details and patient eligibility

About

This project involves the delivery of education and training sessions to Seven Oaks General Hospital (SOGH) staff, with the goal of workplace injury prevention. Education will include review of provincial safe patient handling and back injury prevention guidelines and review of core fitness competencies required to comply with injury prevention standards. Training sessions will include exercises to improve core, gluteal and quadricep strength, hip/knee mobility and hamstring flexibility. Training will also be an opportunity to provide feedback on functional movement performance. Outcomes will include questionnaires on: low back pain/dysfunction; movement confidence; work injury rates and participant satisfaction with program. The project will advise stakeholders of the benefits and challenges associated with implementation of a fitness program to support safe patient handling techniques, as outlined in the provincial guidelines for healthcare workers.

Full description

The Fit for Work Project is an educational and training program outcome evaluation. It is a two-part education and practical program designed to evaluate the effects of training on movement confidence, low back dysfunction and changes in rates of lower back injury. In the first part, participants will attend the education session developed by physiotherapists who specialize in return to work programs. In the second part participants will participate in a 4-week practical program, where they will stretch, lengthen and strengthen key muscles used in squatting, weight shifting and the hip hinge movement. Feedback and movement coaching are an important element in performing and mastering these movements correctly and this workplace wellness training program will provide staff the support needed.

Enrollment: 55 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Male or female, age 18 years or older
• Staff of Seven Oaks General Hospital during the time of the program
• Able to communicate in English and provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

• An acute injury, a medical condition, or other personal reason inhibiting participation in all 4 weeks of exercise training sessions

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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55 participants in 1 patient group

SOGH employees, taking part in the same education and training program.

Experimental group

Description:

Participants will be recruited from the Seven Oak General Hospital staff population and will complete a two-part education and practical program.

Treatment:

Other: An Educational and Training Program