Presentation
Evaluating the Efficacy of Low-Cost Patient Handling Interventions for Home Healthcare
SessionPoster Session 1
DescriptionThe need for home healthcare workers continues to grow. To retain current workers and attract new ones, the quality of worklife needs to improve for these essential workers, including reducing exposure to risk factors for work-related musculoskeletal injuries. Providing home care often involves physically strenuous patient handling activities. While assistive equipment is utilized in hospital and nursing care settings, it is much less likely to be available in home healthcare settings. There is a paucity of research on use of assistive equipment in home settings. The goal of this study was to assess several “small aids” and share results with home healthcare agencies and their clients, with the goal of reducing physical loading experienced by workers when performing some common patient handling activities in home settings. Experienced home healthcare workers performed several patient handling tasks in a simulated home environment, using standard methods and also several small aids. Results showed biomechanical benefits to a patient-worn vest and a small transfer board for certain tasks, as well as positive usability evaluations. This information is being shared in various media to encourage adoption of for the benefit of home healthcare workers and others who perform these physically demanding tasks in home settings.
Event Type
Poster
TimeTuesday, October 14th5:30pm - 6:30pm CDT
LocationRiverside East
Similar Presentations