Overview
Key words: Nursing, upper extremity exposures, pill crushing, work design
Timeline: March 2017 - present
Researchers: Nicholas La Delfa (Principal Investigator, University of Waterloo), Clark Dickerson (University of Waterloo), Archana Kunasegaram (University of Waterloo)
Funder: CRE-MSD
Project type: Seed grant
Partner: City of Toronto
Sector/Workplace type: Healthcare sector, including long term care homes, hospitals, pharmacies
Theme:
Theme
3
-
Risk
assessment
and
hazard
identification
Background/rationale
Nurses and healthcare workers are susceptible to upper extremity musculoskeletal overexertion and injury, especially in healthcare settings where medication is required to be manually crushed using an industry-standard pill-crushing device. Identifying the best practices and quantifying the muscular demands related to this task may help lessen the prevalence of work-related musculoskeletal disorders.
Research question/objectives/methods
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the physical demands on the upper extremity when operating a pill-crushing device in a variety of simulated workplace conditions. Muscular loading and perceived rating of discomfort will be assessed. A sample of 18 female university students will be randomly assigned to crush one of two amounts of pills, at one of three different heights, and using one of two hand orientations. Muscle activation and ratings of perceived exertion will be measured.
Key findings
In progress
Implications for the prevention of MSD
In progress
Knowledge dissemination
In progress
For more information please contact Clark Dickerson at clark.dickerson@uwaterloo.ca.