A Review of Direct Neck Measurement in Occupational Settings

No guidelines are available to orient researchers on the availability and applications of equipment and sensors for recording precise neck movements in occupational settings. In this study reports on direct measurements of neck movements in the workplace were reviewed. Using relevant keywords two independent reviewers searched for eligible studies in the following databases: Cinahal, Cochrane, Embase, Lilacs, PubMed, MEDLINE, PEDro, Scopus and Web of Science. After applying the inclusion criteria, 13 articles on direct neck measurements in occupational settings were retrieved from among 33,666 initial titles. These studies were then methodologically evaluated according to their design characteristics, exposure and outcome assessment, and statistical analysis. The results showed that in most of the studies the three axes of neck movement (flexion-extension, lateral flexion and rotation) were not simultaneously recorded. Deficiencies in available equipment explain this flaw, demonstrating that sensors and systems need to be improved so that a true understanding of real occupational exposure can be achieved. Further studies are also needed to assess neck movement in those who perform heavy-duty work, such as nurses and electricians, since no report about such jobs was identified

Computer work and musculoskeletal disorders of the neck and upper extremity: A systematic review

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This review examines the evidence for an association between computer work and neck and upper extremity disorders (except carpal tunnel syndrome).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A systematic critical review of studies of computer work and musculoskeletal disorders verified by a physical examination was performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 22 studies (26 articles) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Results show limited evidence for a causal relationship between computer work per se, computer mouse and keyboard time related to a diagnosis of wrist tendonitis, and for an association between computer mouse time and forearm disorders. Limited evidence was also found for a causal relationship between computer work per se and computer mouse time related to tension neck syndrome, but the evidence for keyboard time was insufficient. Insufficient evidence was found for an association between other musculoskeletal diagnoses of the neck and upper extremities, including shoulder tendonitis and epicondylitis, and any aspect of computer work.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is limited epidemiological evidence for an association between aspects of computer work and some of the clinical diagnoses studied. None of the evidence was considered as moderate or strong and there is a need for more and better documentation.</p

The cost-effectiveness of the RSI QuickScan intervention programme for computer workers: Results of an economic evaluation alongside a randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The costs of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms are high. In order to decrease these costs employers implement interventions aimed at reducing these symptoms. One frequently used intervention is the RSI QuickScan intervention programme. It establishes a risk profile of the target population and subsequently advises interventions following a decision tree based on that risk profile. The purpose of this study was to perform an economic evaluation, from both the societal and companies' perspective, of the RSI QuickScan intervention programme for computer workers. In this study, effectiveness was defined at three levels: exposure to risk factors, prevalence of arm, shoulder and neck symptoms, and days of sick leave.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The economic evaluation was conducted alongside a randomised controlled trial (RCT). Participating computer workers from 7 companies (N = 638) were assigned to either the intervention group (N = 320) or the usual care group (N = 318) by means of cluster randomisation (N = 50). The intervention consisted of a tailor-made programme, based on a previously established risk profile. At baseline, 6 and 12 month follow-up, the participants completed the RSI QuickScan questionnaire. Analyses to estimate the effect of the intervention were done according to the intention-to-treat principle. To compare costs between groups, confidence intervals for cost differences were computed by bias-corrected and accelerated bootstrapping.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The mean intervention costs, paid by the employer, were 59 euro per participant in the intervention and 28 euro in the usual care group. Mean total health care and non-health care costs per participant were 108 euro in both groups. As to the cost-effectiveness, improvement in received information on healthy computer use as well as in their work posture and movement was observed at higher costs. With regard to the other risk factors, symptoms and sick leave, only small and non-significant effects were found.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In this study, the RSI QuickScan intervention programme did not prove to be cost-effective from the both the societal and companies' perspective and, therefore, this study does not provide a financial reason for implementing this intervention. However, with a relatively small investment, the programme did increase the number of workers who received information on healthy computer use and improved their work posture and movement.</p> <p>Trial registration</p> <p>Trial registration number: NTR1117</p

Using Ergonomic Risk Assessment Methods for Designing Inclusive Work Practices: A Case Study

This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: HUSSAIN, A. ...et al., 2016. Using ergonomic risk assessment methods for designing inclusive work practices – a case study. Human Factors in Manufacturing & Service Industries, 26 (3), pp.337-355., which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/hfm.20650. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving.In common with many industries, manufacturing faces the challenge of effective management of a diverse workforce. Humans differ greatly but traditional manufacturing work practices do not take into account human variability issues during the work design process. Variations in individual and organizational work performance due to many individual factors such as age, gender, level of skill, experience and background bring performance inconsistencies. This research investigates the effects of individual skill on work performance in general, and workplace safety and human well-being in particular. A research framework is proposed for highlighting major differences in work performing strategies, their potential impact on work performance and how these findings can be used for designing more inclusive work practices. A case study has been presented where ergonomics risk assessment methods have been used to validate the usefulness of this framework. It is also concluded that skill has a strong relationship with the level of risk attached to various task performing strategies

Reduksjon av reinnleggelser av pasienter innlagt for KOLS-eksaserbasjoner på Akershus universitetssykehus gjennom poliklinisk lungerehabilitering

Tema og problemstilling: KOLS er et folkehelseproblem med over 40 000 årlige innleggelser i Norge. Reinnleggelser etter en KOLS eksaserbasjon måles som en kvalitetsindikator på norske sykehus og Ahus har den fjerde høyeste reinnleggelsesraten på 31.9 %. Vi ønsker å lage et kvalitetsforbedrings-prosjekt for etablering av tilbud om pulmonal rehabilitering for å senke andel reinnleggelser. Kunnskapsgrunnlag: UpToDate skriver at pulmonal rehabilitering er assosiert med en rekke gunstige effekter, men effekten på reinnleggelser ved KOLS eksaserbasjon er mer uklar (1). En systematisk oversikt fra 2015 viste at pulmonal rehabilitering startet opp innen 4 uker etter utskrivelse reduserte andelen reinnleggelser (2). Dette var i tråd med en eldre systematisk oversikt fra 2011 som viste tilsvarende resultat (3). Criner G.J. et al. gir en grad 1C anbefaling om å igangsette pulmonal rehabilitering innen 4 uker etter utskrivelse for akutt KOLS eksaserbasjon (2). De norske retningslinjene anbefaler også rehabiliteringstiltak ved akutt KOLS eksaserbasjon (4). Dagens praksis, tiltak og indikatorer: På Ahus blir pasienter med KOLS eksaserbasjoner henvist av behandlende fysioterapaut på huset til fysioterapi etter uskrivelse. Ventetiden er ofte over 4 uker. Vårt kvalitetsforbedrings-tiltak er at det opprettes et eget poliklinisk tilbud på Ahus med pulmonal rehabilitering. For vurdering av tiltaket valgte vi resultatindikatoren "reinnleggelser innen 30 dager", og prosessindikatorene "andel pasienter med oppstart innen 4 uker", og "fullføringsrate". Prosess, ledelse og organisering: Forbedringsprosjektet tenkes innført på lungemedisinsk poliklinikk på Ahus, organisert i et fagsamarbeid, hvor en prosjektgruppe med forankring i divisjonsledelsen får i oppgave å utforme, lede og implementere kvalitetsprosjektet som blir videre fulgt av en implementeringsgruppe. Driftsmidler kan komme fra sykehusets ordinære driftsmidler eller som midlertidig prosjektstøtte fra Helse Sør-Øst. Prosjektet struktureres etter en modell for kvalitetsforbedring, med tydelige mål, strukturert gjennomføring, jevnlig evaluering av tiltak og resultater, og nødvendige korreksjoner underveis. Konklusjon: Vi vurderer tiltaket som mulig å implementere, med relevante gevinster både for pasienter, helseøkonomisk og for sykehuset, men erkjenner at det ikke er evidens for bedre prognose ved rehabilitering utført hos spesialisthelsetjenesten enn om det blir utført kommunalt