Risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders due to patient transfer in hospital personnel by DINO and PTAI in selected hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Background and Aim: Work-related musculoskeletal disorders are one of the most important health hazards of hospital personnel with the task of patient transfer and is highly prevalent. Therefore, the aim of this study is ergonomic risk assessment of musculoskeletal disorders in hospital personnel with the task of patient transfer working in different sections of selected hospitals affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences using DINO and PTAI methods. Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed on 245 hospital personnel with the task of patient transfer in different sections of 4 selected hospitals, affiliated to Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, in 2019. In this study was used two-stage cluster random sampling. Data were collected by using Body map, PTAI and DINO questionnaires. Results: The mean and standard deviation of age were 37.7 ± 9.6 years. 72.2% (177 people) of the subjects were men and 27.8% (68 people) were women. Results showed 88.6% (217 people) of the subjects had pain in at least one of the body organs during the past 12 months. Low back pain with 71% (174 people) was the most common musculoskeletal discomfort between subjects. The highest PTAI score was 69.8% (171 people) at second level (yellow area) and 27.8% (68 people) in third level (red area). The highest DINO score was 57.6% (141 people) at second level (yellow area: Requires Ergonomic Measures) and 41.6% (102 people) at third level (red area: weak ergonomic surface). Relationship between the results of PTAI and DINO indexes and prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders were not found significant (p>0.05). The results showed there is a significant relationship between different levels of DINO index with PTAI index (p<0.05). Conclusion: Both PTAI and DINO methods can be a useful tool for evaluating patient displacement. Other risk factors such as inappropriate body postures, prolonged standing and high work pressure in nursing job, indicate that the need of ergonomic interventions and improvement of working conditions is as soon as necessary.