Clinical Trial: Participatory Organizational Intervention for Improved Use of Assistive Devices for Patient Handling

Study Status: Recruiting
Recruit Status: Recruiting
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Deltagerinvolverende Intervention for Bedre Brug af hjælpemidler i hospitalsvæsenet

Brief Summary: Epidemiological studies have shown that patient transfer is a risk factor for back pain, back injuries and long term sickness absence, whereas consistent use of assistive devices during patient transfer is associated with reduced risk of back injury. In consequence, Danish hospitals have made great efforts to increase knowledge, availability and use of assistive devices to reduce work-related physical strain due to patient transfer. Yet, a recent survey among more than 300 nurses and nurses' aides showed that two thirds rarely uses assistive devices during patient transfer. Thus it seems relevant to investigate barriers, opportunities and practical solutions for increasing use of assistive devices among healthcare workers. The purpose of this study is to evaluate a participatory organizational intervention for improved use of assistive devices during patient transfer.

Detailed Summary:
Sponsor: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark

Current Primary Outcome: Use of assistive devices (push-button) [ Time Frame: Average use during the entire 1-year follow-up (i.e. continous measurement during 1 year) adjusted for use during 4 weeks prior to the intervention (baseline) ]

The healthcare workers are encouraged to push one of the following two buttons every time they leave the room after having performed patient transfer; button 1 "Press this button if you used the necessary assistive devices for your patient transfer" and button 2 "Press this button if you did not use the necessary assistive devices for your patient transfer". The number of Button 1 counts as a percentage of total counts (Button 1+2) will be calculated for set of counters and used as primary outcome.


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome:

  • Use of assistive devices (accelerometer) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Accelerometers will be placed on the assistive devices. The method is currently being validated in the laboratory and will be finalized before initiation of the 1 year follow-up measurement. Accelerations of a certain time frame will be defined as "use", whereas brief accelerations will be considered as noise
  • Pain intensity (VAS scale) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Pain intensity in the low-back is rated subjectively using a 0-10 modified VAS scale, where 0 indicates "no pain at all" and 10 indicate "worst pain imaginable"
  • Perceived physical exertion (Borg CR10 scale) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Perceived physical exertion during patient handling. Borg CR10 scale
  • Back injury [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    The specific question reads: "Have you within the last 12 months injured your back during patient transfer? (Think of situation where the pain appeared suddenly and unexpectedly)." The respondent replies "yes" or "no"
  • Work ability (Index questionnaire) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    The full Work Ability Index questionnaire (Ilmarinen)
  • Social capital (Questionnaire) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Questionnaire concerning bonding, bridging, linking A, and linking B social capital (Andersen LL 2015 Scandinavian Journal of Public Health)
  • Knowledge (Questionnaire) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Specific questionnaire about knowledge about patients transfer and safety at work
  • Organizational Readiness to Change (Questionnaire) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Questionnaire about Organizational Readiness to Change
  • Use of assistive devices (Questionnaire) [ Time Frame: change from baseline to 1-year follow-up ]
    Questionnaire about frequency of use of the different types of assistive devices


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark

Dates:
Date Received: March 4, 2016
Date Started: April 2016
Date Completion: April 2017
Last Updated: May 13, 2016
Last Verified: May 2016