Evaluation of the effects of an ergonomic-educational programme. The assessment of "ergonomic errors" made during the performance of nursing tasks.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were (i) To establish whether it is possible to assess by means of a check-list in a reliable way errors which violated biomechanical and ergonomical principles during nursing tasks, and (ii) to study the effectiveness of an ergonomic-educational course by using this check-list.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Trainees (n = 12) and a control group of nurses (n = 12) who did not attend the course, performed three nursing activities at three points in time under standardized conditions; once before and twice after the course had ended. Their performances were recorded on video. A check-list was developed to assess the number of ergonomic errors made during the test performances. Two observers completed the check-lists after having watched five videotapes, and one of them did this for a second time 3 weeks later, in order to assess inter- and intra-observer reliability. In addition the tapes of all nurses were scored and analysed on differences in the performance of the two groups at the three points in time. Percentage of agreement and kappa (kappa) was used to express inter- and intra-observer reliability. Student's t-test was used to analyse the differences in mean percentages of errors.

RESULTS

The inter- and intra-observer reliability were 92% with kappa of 0.84 and 93% with kappa of 0.86, respectively. Further results showed that the mean percentages of errors made by the control group remained the same at the three measurement times. However, in the trainee group a significant decrease in errors was found. The trainees made fewer errors at all three points in time than the controls did.

CONCLUSION

It appears feasible to create a check-list to assess ergonomic errors in a reliable way. Trainees make fewer errors after an ergonomic-educational course. It is necessary, however to evaluate whether trained nurses work more safely in their daily duties than during the study.