Effectiveness of wearing a back support belt while working among medical personnel in a hospital, Chonburi Province
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14456/dcj.2024.26Keywords:
back support belt, medical personnel, hospitalAbstract
The objective of this research was to study the effectiveness of wearing back support belt while working among medical personnel in the laundry, warehouse, hospital porter, and building management department in a hospital in Chonburi province. This research was experimental design (randomized controlled trial: RCT) with stratified randomization, categorized by department, age, gender and comparing neck, back, and hip pain, use of pain relief drugs, sick leave and disability factors from back pain by Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire between groups that used and did not use back support belt, 26 people per group, both groups received ergonomics training. Data were collected every week for 1 month. The results of the study revealed that the experimental group had a statistically significant different in the median for neck, upper back, lower back, and hip pain compared with the pain before using the back support belt. The lower back was the only area where pain was different between the experimental and control groups after the study. Wearing a back support belt significantly reduces sick leave from muscle pain, but no difference was found in the use of pain relief drugs and disability factors for back pain. Most medical personnel were very satisfied after using the back support belt, but some had the wrong attitude, such as thinking that the back support belt was a personal protective equipment (76.9 percent), they can lift heavy objects without paying attention to the correct lifting posture (26.9 percent), and they could lift heavier objects safely (76.9 percent). Therefore, there should be support for the use of quality back support belts that are registered as medical devices and the advice on the proper use of back support belts. Ergonomic principles when lifting and moving materials should be noticed for safety.
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