Ergonomic principles in patient handling: Knowledge and practice of physiotherapists in Nigeria

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Adje, Misheal^a | Odebiyi, Daniel O.^{b; c} | Okafor, Udoka A.^b | Kalu, Michael E.^{d; *}

Affiliations: [a] Shell/RNZ, Occupational Hospital, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria | [b] Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria | [c] Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Clinical Sciences College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi Araba, Lagos, Nigeria | [d] School of Rehabilitation Science, McMaster University, Canada

Correspondence: [*] Address for correspondence: Michael Kalu, BMR.PT, MSc, PhD(s) School of Rehabilitation Science, McMasters University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 1C7, Canada. E-mail: kalum@mcmaster.ca.

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Physiotherapists are advocates of workplace health and safety. Despite the high prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs), there is limited knowledge of ergonomic principles have been successfully applied in the workplace by Nigerian physiotherapists. OBJECTIVES:This study evaluates the knowledge and practice of ergonomic principles in patient handling among physiotherapists in Nigeria. METHOD:A cross-sectional survey design was used to sample 360 physiotherapists practicing in Nigeria. Participants responded to a three-part structured questionnaire that had a reliability coefficient of 0.77. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square. RESULTS:The majority (95.9%) of the participants had good knowledge of the ergonomic principles in patient handling while only 48.6% reported practicing them. Poor practice was mainly due to a lack of patient handling equipment. There was no significant association between knowledge and practice of ergonomic principles among study participants. Specific areas of physiotherapy practice showed a significant association with ergonomic knowledge and practice. Years of physiotherapy practice and highest educational qualifications showed a significant association with the levels of practice and knowledge respectively. CONCLUSION:Physiotherapists in Nigeria reported a good level of knowledge of ergonomic principles, but a poor practice level. Perhaps this non-adherence contributed to the high prevalence of WMSDs among physiotherapists in Nigeria.

Keywords: Health care professionals, manual handling, musculoskeletal disorders, workplace ergonomics

DOI: 10.3233/WOR-193044

Journal: Work, vol. 64, no. 4, pp. 825-832, 2019