The Effects of an Ergonomic Education Program Combined with Muscle Stretching on Preventive Behaviors, Muscle Pain, and Physical Fitness among Hospital Staff with Work-related Musculoskeletal Pain at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi Province
Keywords:
Ergonomics Education , Muscle Stretching , Muscle Pain, Hospital PersonnelAbstract
Health problems caused by ergonomic hazards are the most common health issues affecting personnel at Chaophraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital, Prachinburi Province. This quasi-experimental study aimed to examine the effects of an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching on preventive behaviors, muscle pain, and physical fitness among hospital staff experiencing work-related musculoskeletal pain. The intervention was developed based on ergonomic principles and the nursing system theory. A one-group pretest-posttest design was employed, involving 106 hospital personnel selected through simple random sampling. The intervention included an ergonomics education program combined with muscle stretching, conducted once a week for four weeks, together with the provision of the ergonomics and stretching education manual, and the weekly nursing supervision to support correct ergonomics practices. Data collection tools included a questionnaire on ergonomics knowledge, a scale for assessing preventive behaviors, a muscle pain symptom record, and a physical fitness test record. Instrument validity was confirmed by five experts, and reliability coefficients were 0.79 for the knowledge questionnaire and 0.96 for the preventive behavior scale. Descriptive statistics and paired t-tests were used to analyze the data.
The results showed statistically significant improvements in participants’ ergonomics knowledge, preventive behaviors, flexibility, and muscle strength after the intervention (t = 26.59, p < 0.001; t = 21.66, p < 0.001; t = 11.70, p < 0.001; t = 12.59, p < 0.001, respectively). Additionally, muscle pain symptoms significantly decreased (t = -20.43, p < 0.001). These findings suggest that the ergonomics education and muscle stretching program effectively enhanced knowledge, promoted preventive behaviors, reduced musculoskeletal pain, and improved physical fitness among hospital personnel. This program can be adapted for use by healthcare professionals and others in similar occupational environments.
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