Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Articles
Title
Evaluation of a Toolkit for Safe Patient Handling in the Home Care Setting
ISBN or ISSN
2162-1462
Volume
1
Issue
1
Publication Date / Copyright Date
3-2011
First Page
22
Last Page
29
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to provide safe patient handling equipment for home health care workers and demonstrate a decrease in musculoskeletal pain and discomfort. A portable Tool Kit was created specifically for home health aides for use in patient homes. A mixed method design using quantitative and qualitative measures was utilized to measure success in reducing musculoskeletal discomfort. Ninety percent of aides who reported lower back pain seven days pre study reported no lower back pain seven days post study after using the Tool Kit for two months (p=.004). There was significant reduction in total body areas with reported pain, including upper back, neck, and lower back (p=.000, d=.87). Interviews revealed aides were able to use sit-to-stand and overhead lift s, sliding sheets, air-powered mattresses, and gait belts successfully. The Tool Kit provided home health aides with choices to work safely, and the equipment worked well in homes.
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences
Keywords
Home Health Care, Intervention, Ergonomic Measures, Equipment, Safe Patient Handling
NSUWorks Citation
Capewell, Roberta A.; Brown, David A.; and Rockefeller, Kathleen, "Evaluation of a Toolkit for Safe Patient Handling in the Home Care Setting" (2011). Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Articles. 44.
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/hpd_pt_facarticles/44
