Evaluating repeated patient handling injuries following the implementation of a multi-factor ergonomic intervention program among health care workers

Objective

The objective of this study was to evaluate repeated patient handling injuries following a multi-factor ergonomic intervention program among health care workers.

Methods

This was a quasi-experimental study which had an intervention group and a non-randomized control group. Data were collected from six hospitals in Saskatchewan, Canada from September 1, 2001 to December 1, 2006.

Results

A total of 1,480 individuals who had a previous injury were eligible for the study. Medium and small size hospitals in the intervention group had significantly fewer repeated injuries than in the control group. Multivariate analysis showed that the intervention group had 38.1% lower odds of having repeated injury compared to the control group, after adjusting for hospital size.

Conclusions

The work-related repeated injury after a multi-factor intervention program was reduced. The synergistic relationships between components of multi-factor intervention and applicability of injury prevention programs to different settings need to be further explored.

Impact on Industry

Implementing a multi-factor program with the right equipment and training can lower the risk of injury among health care workers.     

Falls and fall prevention programmes in developing countries: environmental scan for the adaptation of the Canadian Falls prevention curriculum for developing countries

Problem

Falls in older persons in developing countries are poorly understood, and falls prevention and health promotion programmes for this population are largely lacking.

Methods

A systematic review was carried out of relevant literature on falls and prevention programmes, and falls prevention education, and a scan undertaken of health promotion programmes for older persons in a representative country - South Africa.

Results

Studies on the risk and prevalence of falls are largely retrospective and hospital-based, with varied methodology, including study period, sampling method and sample size. Falls prevalence is based largely on self-reports in studies on general trauma in all age groups. Falls incidence varies from 10.1% to 54%. No reports could be traced on sustained falls prevention or health promotion programmes.

Conclusion

Scant research has been conducted and little preventive education offered on falls in older persons. Adaptation of the Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum for developing countries will help to fill gaps in knowledge and practice.

Impact on industry

With rapid increase in the populations of older persons in developing countries, research on age related disorders such as falls is required to guide policy and management of falls.     

Implementing falls prevention research into policy and practice in Australia: past, present and future

Introduction

Falls in older Australians are a significant public health issue with one in three older people falling one or more times each year.

Method

Many fall prevention randomized controlled trials have been conducted in Australia as well as across the world.

Results

The findings of these studies now constitute a substantial evidence base that can provide direction for health and lifestyle interventions for preventing falls in older people. This research evidence has contributed to health policy in Australia to some extent, but is yet to be widely implemented into practice. This opinion piece overviews previous policy initiatives and describes a new Partnership research program funded by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), which seeks to further influence health policy and address the ongoing research-practice gap.     

Using the RE-AIM framework to translate a research-based falls prevention intervention into a community-based program: lessons learned

Problem

Exercise-based research interventions demonstrate reduced risk and rates of falls for community dwelling older adults; however, little is known about effective mechanisms for the translation, implementation, and maintenance of these interventions in community settings.

Method

The RE-AIM framework was used to assess the translatability of an effective exercise-based research intervention in a community setting. Questions included: Reach — Would the target population attend? Effectiveness — What was the adherence and compliance to the program? Were there individual improvements in falls risk factors? Adoption: Would staff at the center adopt the program and offer it past the funding period? Implementation — What adaptations, including optimal frequency and duration, should be made to meet the community needs, still adhere to core elements and achieve similar outcomes? Maintenance — Would the program be sustained by our community partners?

Discussion

The process of translating a controlled research intervention targeting older adults at risk of falls into a community setting was challenging. Licensed professionals developed the infrastructure to safely and effectively deliver the program. The end product was highly appealing program to our target audience, resulted in improved outcomes and was successfully adopted and maintained by the community partner.

Summary

Partnerships between community and healthcare providers are key to successful implementation of falls prevention interventions. Lessons learned from this experience can be applied to the translation of future exercise-based falls prevention interventions.     

贵州黔南州高层建筑消防安全调研与防火策略

对贵州省黔南州145栋现有高层建筑消防设施、消防装备、市政供水能力、居民的防火意识、自救能力等相关消防安全问题进行调查,将存在的问题进行了归类总结。结果显示黔南州高层建筑消防设施完好的只占总调查高层建筑的33.1%,大部分高层建筑存在不同程度的消防安全隐患,消防设备有待完善,居民的防火意识有待提高,黔南州高层建筑消防安全形势不容乐观,本文针对存在消防安全隐患的问题进行了分析,并提出了高层建筑防火策略。     

我国尘肺防治的研究进展与展望

生产性粉尘是我国作业场所最普遍且严重威胁劳动者健康的职业有害因素,接触生产性粉尘引发的尘肺病是我国发病最高的职业病。为控制尘肺病的发生,以《中华人民共和国职业病防治法》为依据,我国已经进行了大量配套职业卫生标准的研制工作,同时,在生产粉尘健康危害评价、接尘人群的健康监护和呼吸防护用品研制方面开展了大量科研工作。要达到国际劳工组织和世界卫生组织提出的2030年消除矽肺病目标,我们的尘肺防治工作任重道远。     

Validating an evidence-based, self-rated fall risk questionnaire (FRQ) for older adults

Background

Falls are a common, serious, and often unrecognized problem facing older adults. The objective of this study was to provide an initial clinical and statistical validation for a public health strategy of fall risk self-assessment by older adults using a Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ).

Methods

Adults age 65 + (n = 40) were recruited at a Los Angeles Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facility and at a local assisted living facility. Participants completed the FRQ self-assessment and results were compared to a “gold standard” of a clinical evaluation of risks using the American/British Geriatrics Society guidelines to assess independent predictors of falls: history of previous falls, fear of falling, gait/balance, muscle weakness, incontinence, sensation and proprioception, depression, vision, and medications. For the comparison, we used an iterative statistical approach, weighing items based on relative risk.

Results

There was strong agreement between the FRQ and clinical evaluation (kappa = .875, p < .0001). Individual item kappa values ranged from .305-.832. After dropping one FRQ item (vision risk) because of inadequate agreement with the clinical evaluation (kappa = .139, p = .321), the final FRQ had good concurrent validity.

Conclusions

The FRQ goes beyond existing screening tools in that it is based on both evidence and clinical acceptability and has been initially validated with clinical examination data. A larger validation with longitudinal follow-up should determine the actual strength of the FRQ in predicting future falls.     

绿色化学浅议

绿色化学是更高层次的化学，其产生是为了避免或减少化学过程对人类健康和环境造成的危害，由此出现的技术是环境友好的技术。绿色化学的发展能节省资源、减少环境污染，并将成为可持续发展战略的核心内容之一。     

机动车污染防治政策研究

机动车污染已成为城市大气污染的主要污染源之一。并且机动车的噪声污染及废旧汽车的废物污染也越来越严重。中国已初步建立了以《大气污染防治法》为主干，以《环境噪声污染防治法》为辅助的机动车污染防治法规体系，但在管理思想及管理手段和管理环节上仍需进一步完善。     

电厂噪声的监测与防治

噪声是环境污染的一个重要方面,它危害人体健康.电厂噪声也不容忽视,本文将对电厂噪声的监测和防治作一简要说明.根据规定,火电厂环境监测的监测项目为厂区、生活区环境噪声,在接近发电负荷时每年监测一次.监测时,在电厂总平面图上,将厂区生活区划分为等距离的网格.监测噪声的基本仪器是声级计.电厂噪声的防治措施有:在设计中充分考虑噪声的控制问题;加装消声设备;集中控制关键设备及位置的噪声;选择优质吸音与隔音材料;合理布置并增大绿化面积等.