Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims:Musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most common causes of occupational injuries in nursing. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of education of occupational safety on knowledge and improvement of employee performance during moving patients in intensive care units of hospitals.

Methods:This study is an educational trial and was accomplished in Amiralmomenin and Vali-e-Asr educational hospitals in Arak. 60 subjects (nurses, health workers and services) were randomly divided into intervention and control groups. In both groups, the rates of musculoskeletal disorders are assessed. Then intervention group was trained for safety instructions during moving patients, but the control group was not. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 20.

Results:Results showed that before intervention, both groups based on demographic characteristics and musculoskeletal disorders did not have significant different (P> 0.05). In intervention group a significant difference between knowledge level of before (12.73± 6.61) and after the intervention (88± 19.27) was seen (P <0.05). Results in control group showed no significant difference before (12.73 ± 11.6) and after (12.53 ± 12.37) the intervention (P> 0.05).

Conclusion:The results showed that increasing the knowledge level of nurses and health workers about correct transportation of patients in intensive care units have had a surprisingly effectiveness on their knowledge levels and performances.