Publication: Biomechanical and ergonomic evaluation of motorized patient transfer device
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Date
2024-07-01
Authors
Tan Jia Yi
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Abstract
Patient transfer is a critical task in healthcare settings. It consumes a large portion physical strength from caregivers, often leading to work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). This study aims to address these issues by conducting a comprehensive biomechanical and ergonomic evaluation was conducted on an MPTD prototype, focusing on its impact on muscle activation and physical demands during various tasks. The study involved one male and one female subject which both are students, using Xsens, force plates and surface electromyography (sEMG) for data collection. Tasks with muscle activation levels compared to those during conventional methods using a hospital bed and a stretcher. Results shows that the MPTDs required lower muscle activation levels if compared to manual methods, particularly in the Erector Spinae muscles, with significant differences observed (p < 0.05). The average muscle activation levels (MVC) during MPTD tasks were lower than those in manual methods, suggesting a reduction in physical strain on nurses. However, certain tasks, such as twisting and returning, showed higher muscle activation, particularly in the Erector Spinae muscles, suggesting a need for improved ergonomic design. The study also investigated the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA) scores for both subjects, with no significant difference found between male and female subjects (p = 0.172). The REBA scores for subjects using the MPTD were lower (female: 5.43 ± 0.87, male: 5.88 ± 0.82) than those for manual methods (floor lift: 6.07 ± 0.39, walking belt: 7.80 ± 0.74), but still within the medium risk level range. This highlights the potential of MPTDs to reduce physical strain on nurses, thereby decreasing the risk of WMSDs and enhancing patient safety. The medium REBA score which poses medium risk level shows that the MPTD is not yet ready for widely used and further research is recommended to improve the performance of MPTD. The validation of findings with