Development of an Optimal Patient Transfer Task Set and Simulation-based Intervention to Reduce Musculoskeletal Injury in Healthcare Workers
Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Introduction: Occupational injury is recognized as a key attrition factor in nursing with musculoskeletal injury the most common cause. Nurses, nurse aides and orderly injury rates are consistently listed in the top ten US occupations in terms of total numbers of injuries with patient transfer a primary etiologic factor. Patient transfer education for trainees as well as employees remains inconsistent and non-standardized. Legislative and policy efforts have not been effective.Methods: Two methods are combined in this paper to approach the problem: hierarchical task analysis and a simulation educational intervention. Hierarchical task analysis has been used to solve industrial process problems for more than three decades and simulation education methods have been used in aviation since the 1920's. The hierarchical task analysis process is used to develop an optimal task set which was used to frame and implement a healthcare simulationtraining intervention.Results: Performance evaluation tools for patient transfer were developed based on the optimum task set. Transfer of simulation training outcomes to the clinical setting was demonstrated on pilot study intervention and control units. The program was implemented in a community hospital with sustained improvement in transfer skill and reduction of injury rates and lost work days.Conclusion: Because patient safety and improved outcomes are linked to adequate levels of nurse staffing, the public health implications of this project are significant. If nursing injury can be avoided using these methods then true progress can be made in arresting the injury epidemic with resultant reduction of nursing workforce losses with consequent healthcare system benefits.
Author: John M. OʼDonnell
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1577044865