DEVELOPMENT OF RISK ASSESSMENT METHOD FOR SMALL SIZED HOSPITALS USING AHP: A CASE IN NORTHERN INDIA

Several studies suggest that a major factor causing acute low back pain in nursing staff is the manual handling of disabled patients. In India, especially the northern part that consists of non-metropolitan cities, most of the hospitals still lack advanced patient handling methods and techniques. Therefore, it is necessary to devise a method of assessment for testing the effectiveness of an ergonomic intervention or training for safe patient handling. A proper quantification of risk involved in manual handling is required so that the severity of injuries caused by this handling can be reduced by an ergonomic intervention, which in turn helps redesign the task of manual handling. This study aimed to develop a qualitative method of risk assessment using the AHP for manual patient handling and to evaluate the validity and reliability of the risk assessment. The method is validated using the concepts of construct validity and content validity. The reliability was estimated through stability (test-retest) and homogeneity (internal consistency). The tests for validity and reliability were conducted in 130 units of 7 small-sized hospitals. The results of the current study reveal that the method was reliable and valid for risk assessment of patient handling.

Introducing Exoskeletons into the Operating Room: A pilot study with vascular surgeons

The main goal of this pilot study was to create, implement and evaluate a strategy for introducing exoskeletons in the operating room (OR) at a quaternary care academic hospital. The strategy consisted of operating-room-specific considerations, introducing exoskeletons to surgeons, and a post-surgery survey. Three male attending vascular surgeons participated in eleven data collections to date. Low interference with surgeon’s ability to perform surgery was found for all surgical procedures, except for two open abdominal aortic procedures. The surgeons reported little to no limit on range of motion, except for one open abdominal aortic procedure. Lower than expected perceived improvement of ability to perform surgery and increase of physical comfort was self-reported. The responses indicate that the surgeons are willing to keep trying an exoskeleton intervention. In conclusion, a feasible process was created to introduce passive exoskeleton as an ergonomic intervention to vascular surgeons in their ORs.

Drudgery reduction in operation of cleaner-cum-grader: An ergonomic intervention

A pedal-operated cleaner-cum-grader having common bicycle chain-sprocket mechanism to get the speeds of 240 and 720 rpm of eccentric shaft and blower shaft, respectively for the desired cleaning/grading of grains was developed earlier by CIAE, Bhopal. Also, in order to utilize the human energy in more efficient way through pedalling mode, CIAE has recently developed a dynapod. The dynapod is a pedal operated rotary device, which can be used as an interface between human worker and any rotary-type machine. The developed dynapod was used to operate the cleaner-cum-grader to assess the drudgery reduction in its operation in comparison to original pedalling mechanism. The dynapod was interfaced with the cleaner-cum-grader by carrying out minor modifications in the original unit. Eight male agricultural workers with mean stature and weight as 168.4 cm and 54.4 kg, respectively participated in the study. The cleaner-cum-grader was used for cleaning and grading of soybean grains. Heart rate of the workers was measured during operation of cleaner-cum-grader using the dynapod as well as the original pedalling mechanism. Mean working heart rate during operation of machine with original pedalling mechanism was 114 beats min-1 as against 108 beats min-1 in case of pedalling with dynapod. The work pulse (ÄHR) with the original pedalling mechanism was 35 beats min-1 as against 29 beats min-1 during pedalling with dynapod. The output capacity of the machine increased from 303 kg h-1 in case of original pedalling mechanism to 345 kg h-1 with dynapod. Considering the cardiac cost as well as output of the machine, the drudgery reduction by using dynapod with cleaner-cum-grader was about 25.4% as compared to the original pedalling mechanism.

Ergonomic Intervention on Physical Therapy Programs Decrease Pain and Disability Level on Subject with Myogenic Low Back Pain: A Case Report

Introduction: Myogenic Low Back Pain is an uncomfortable pain on the lower back, often caused by musculoskeletal disorders resulting in pain and disability. This case report aims to review ergonomic intervention on physical therapy program on myogenic low back pain. Case description: A 45-years-old man working as a roof tile craftsman complained of pain in the lower back area and already felt it for 1 month ago. The pain did not radiate to the leg. The patient has no neurological signs and symptoms. Patient-reported that he had experienced the same incident about 9 times in the last 3 years ago. The patient always performed bending motion and lifting the roof tile every day. The patient has been visited physical therapy and received ergonomic intervention and physical therapy programs such as core stability exercise, soft tissue mobilization and modalities for seven weeks. Following the ergonomic intervention and therapeutic exercise application, the Visual Analogue Scale score decreased from 6 to 0. The Modified Oswestry Disability Index score gradually decreased from 60% disability to 0% disability. The patient no longer complained of MLBP and was able to lift the roof tile well. Conclusion: After a seven-weeks physical therapy treatment session, the patient did not feel pain and can perform forward bending. Modified Oswestry Disability Index score improved and demonstrated improved lifting the roof tile without any complaints. We concluded that the ergonomic intervention combined with physical therapy programs effectively decreased pain and disability level on a subject with MLBP