INVESTIGATION OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ERGONOMIC RISK FACTORS, ANTHROPOMETRIC CHARACTERISTICS, AND MUSCULOSKELETAL HEALTH AMONG AMBULANCE WORKERS

Öz

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of anthropometric characteristics and workplace ergonomic factors on musculoskeletal health of ambulance personnel working in 112 Emergency Medical Services from an occupational health and safety perspective. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 55 ambulance personnel (33 males, 22 females) in Kocaeli, Türkiye. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Cornell Musculoskeletal Discomfort Questionnaire (CMDQ), and Ergonomic Evaluation Inventory for Emergency Ambulances (EEIEA). Participants' height, body weight, and upper and lower extremity lengths were measured. Statistical analyses included Kolmogorov-Smirnov and Shapiro-Wilk tests, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn’s post hoc, and Spearman correlation analyses. Results: A total of 76.4% of participants perceived their working environment as ergonomically inadequate. CMDQ results showed musculoskeletal complaints were most frequent in the neck, upper back, and spine. Female personnel had significantly higher scores than males in neck, upper back, right shoulder, right wrist, right upper extremity, and total spine regions (p<0.05). Although total CMDQ scores were higher in females, the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05). EEIEA results indicated ambulance ergonomic suitability was moderate. No significant correlations were found between anthropometric measurements and CMDQ or EEIEA scores (p>0.05). Conclusion: Ambulance personnel are exposed to considerable ergonomic risks, and inadequate workplace ergonomics may affect musculoskeletal health. Female personnel reported higher discomfort levels than males. These findings emphasize the importance of considering anthropometric characteristics in ambulance design and improving ergonomic conditions. Ergonomic interventions and preventive occupational health and safety strategies are recommended to support employee health and well-being

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ambulance Workers
• Anthropometry
• Ergonomics
• Musculoskeletal System
• Occupational Health and Safety

Destekleyen Kurum

Non-Interventional Ethics Committee of Kocaeli Health and Technology University, Kocaeli, Turkey

Etik Beyan

Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Non-Interventional Ethics Committee of Kocaeli Health and Technology University, Kocaeli, Turkey (Decision No: 2025/184; Date: 08.09.2025).

Teşekkür

We hereby declare that the data presented in this manuscript were derived, in part, from the Master's thesis of Simge Dırmıkcı. In addition, part of this Master's thesis was presented as an oral presentation at the 2nd Turkish Health Services Congress, organized by the Turkish Emergency Medicine Association, held on 26-28 March 2026.

AMBULANS ÇALIŞANLARINDA ERGONOMİK RİSK FAKTÖRLERİ, ANTROPOMETRİK ÖZELLİKLER VE KAS İSKELET SAĞLIĞI ARASINDAKİ İLİŞKİNİN İNCELENMESİ

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, 112 Acil Sağlık Hizmetlerinde görev yapan ambulans çalışanlarının antropometrik özellikleri ile çalışma ortamına ilişkin ergonomik faktörlerin kas-iskelet sistemi sağlığı üzerindeki etkilerini iş sağlığı ve güvenliği perspektifinden değerlendirmek amacıyla gerçekleştirilmiştir. Yöntem: Tanımlayıcı ve kesitsel tipte planlanan araştırma, Kocaeli’de görev yapan 55 ambulans çalışanı (33 erkek, 22 kadın) ile yürütülmüştür. Veriler, Kişisel Bilgi Formu, Cornell Kas-İskelet Sistemi Rahatsızlık Anketi (CKİSRA) ve Acil Yardım Ambulanslarının Ergonomik Açıdan Değerlendirme Envanteri (AYAEADE) kullanılarak toplanmıştır. Katılımcıların boy uzunluğu, vücut ağırlığı ile üst ve alt ekstremite uzunlukları ölçülmüştür. İstatistiksel analizlerde Kolmogorov-Smirnov ve Shapiro-Wilk normallik testleri, Mann-Whitney U, Kruskal-Wallis, Dunn ve Spearman korelasyon analizleri uygulanmıştır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların %76,4’ü çalışma ortamını ergonomik açıdan yetersiz olarak değerlendirmiştir. CKİSRA sonuçlarına göre kas-iskelet sistemi yakınmaları en sık boyun, sırt ve omurga bölgelerinde görülmüştür. Kadın çalışanlarda boyun, sırt, sağ omuz, sağ el bileği, sağ üst ekstremite ve omurga toplam skorları erkeklere göre anlamlı düzeyde daha yüksektir (p<0,05). Cornell toplam skoru kadınlarda daha yüksek olmasına rağmen fark istatistiksel olarak anlamlı değildir (p>0,05). AYAEADE sonuçları ambulansların ergonomik uygunluk düzeyinin orta seviyede olduğunu göstermiştir. Antropometrik ölçümler ile CKİSRA veya AYAEADE puanları arasında anlamlı ilişki saptanmamıştır (p>0,05). Sonuç: Ambulans çalışanlarının önemli ergonomik risklere maruz kaldığı ve çalışma ortamındaki ergonomik yetersizliklerin kas-iskelet sistemi sağlığını olumsuz etkileyebileceği belirlenmiştir. Bulgular, özellikle kadın çalışanların daha yüksek kas-iskelet sistemi yakınmaları bildirdiğini ve ambulans tasarımında çalışanların antropometrik özelliklerinin dikkate alınmasının önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Çalışan sağlığını desteklemek amacıyla ergonomik düzenlemeler ve koruyucu iş sağlığı ve güvenliği uygulamalarının yaygınlaştırılması önerilmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ambulans Çalışanları
• Antropometri
• Ergonomi
• İş Sağlığı ve Güvenliği
• Kas-İskelet Sistemi

Etik Beyan

Çalışma için etik onay, Kocaeli Sağlık ve Teknoloji Üniversitesi (Kocaeli, Türkiye) Girişimsel Olmayan Etik Kurulu'ndan alınmıştır (Karar No: 2025/184; Tarih: 08.09.2025).

Teşekkür

Bu makalede sunulan verilerin, kısmen Simge Dırmıkcı'nın yüksek lisans tezinden elde edildiğini beyan ederiz. Ayrıca, söz konusu yüksek lisans tezinin bir bölümü, 26-28 Mart 2026 tarihlerinde Türkiye Acil Tıp Derneği tarafından düzenlenen 2. Türk Sağlık Hizmetleri Kongresi'nde sözlü bildiri olarak sunulmuştur.

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