Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice

Advisor

Carmen Session

Committee Member

Roberta Silfen

Committee Member

Lynne Schrum

Keywords

behavior change, Cumulative Trauma Disorders, decisional balance, employee experiences, ergonomic intervention, ergonomics, higher education, injury prevention, workplace injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, occupational safety, organizational health, perceived self-efficacy, phenomenological study, postural awareness, self-efficacy, stages of change, Transtheoretical Model of Change, TTM, workplace wellness

Abstract

This applied dissertation identified a more effective method of preventing workplace injuries for the employees in a large, private not-for-profit university, in southern Florida. The study lasted over the course of two months, allowing employees’ ample time for effective participation in a structured study design and interviewing the employee participants.

The study evaluated the effects of the transtheoretical model of change (TTM) on ergonomic intervention. The model established the relationship of individual decision making self-efficacy and characterized (a) the relationship between tailoring interventions to match a person’s readiness (stage of change) and ergonomic intervention; (b) the TTM in symptoms occurrence; and (c) personal choices including those that extended to the workplace causing work related injuries. Individual perceived self-efficacy was important because it revealed how the individual motivated his or herself and behaved an important part of the TTM.

This phenomenological study focused on a central question about employees’ experience with the TTM, specifically the stages of change. Additional questions about current methods used for safety prevention and employees’ own philosophy on safety were included. Data analysis included memoing, responses to a 47-question questionnaire, and transcription of interviews. This study obtained data from 11 questionnaires as a pre-and post-measurement tool. In addition, analysis of interview instruments, specifically a total of 12- interview sessions over a period of two months, including a decisional balance exercise. The decisional balance construct measured how individuals thought through the pros and cons of both changing and not making a change. The decisional balance exercise identified patterns that were useful to understand how the pros and cons related to the stages of change.

Findings of the study indicated that the employer should use behavior change as a primary model of preventing injuries in line with ergonomic intervention efforts.

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