Measurement Of Intensive Care Nurses' Musculoskeletal System Disorders with Quick Exposure Check Method
Abstract
Musculoskeletal disorders are health problems that individuals are exposed to in the long term while performing their professions. These problems are caused by repetitive work by employees or incorrect positions. Ergonomists or occupational health and safety specialists have developed various methods to identify employee ailments and make improvements to them. The quick exposure check method is one of them. The quick exposure check method detects deficiencies in the workplace by measuring the employee's exposure to different body parts and work stress. In doing so, it is both fast and reliable. In this study, the reason for applying the scale to intensive care nurses is that society is aware that healthcare workers work under heavy workload. Additionally, it is believed that they play an important role in human health, aiming to measure the stress levels of employees in this profession. In this context, a training and research hospital was chosen for the implementation of this scale. The results obtained showed that the neck exposure level and stress levels of the nurses were very high. According to the rapid exposure assessment method, the risk was high for waist, shoulder/arm, wrist/hand body regions and for the working speed factor. The opinions of the nurses participating in the observation were taken and suggestions were made to reduce the workload. The results of the rapid exposure assessment method support the discomfort expressed by the nurses.
Keywords
Intensive Care, Intensive Care Nurses, Quick Exposure Check (QEC), Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSD)
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