An evaluation of mechanical aids used within the NHS

McGuire, Thelma; Moody, Janis; Hanson, Mark J.

doi:10.7748/ns1996.10.11.6.33.c2477

Cited by 13 publications

(14 citation statements)

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“…Given that sling sizing is not standardized across vendors, it is essential that the nurse be familiar with the weight capacity of the particular sling to be used. Moody, McGuire, Hanson, and Tigar (1996) found that 57% of surveyed nurses did not know the maximum weight capacity of the lift, let alone that of the sling. However, nurses must be aware that specified weight limits alone do not predict proper sling fit because the patient's body weight distribution is a significant consideration.…”

Section: Sling Use Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Proper Sling Selection and Application While Using Patient Lifts

Baptiste

Cleerey²,

Matz³

et al. 2008

Rehabilitation Nursing

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In response to staff shortages, an aging clinical workforce, and research on safe patient handling, manufacturers have provided an extensive array of patient-lifting technology, including ceiling, floor-based, and sit-to-stand lifts as well as slings that are required for their use. Expanded choice, however, may pose challenges to both healthcare facilities and individual clinicians. These challenges, if not successfully resolved, can preclude the consistent, safe, and efficient use of patient-handling devices. This article provides nurses and other direct patient care providers with a heightened awareness of the challenges to appropriate sling and lift use in rehabilitation and other clinical settings. A new way to categorize slings is introduced, and guidelines for safely evaluating and using slings for different patient-handling tasks are offered.

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Section: Sling Use Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sling design has been found to be vital to patient comfort, safety, and dignity (Edlund et al, 1993; McGuire, Moody, & Hanson, 1996). In an evaluation of 10 different lift devices (McGuire, Moody, & Hanson)participants reported that slings providing head and neck support were more comfortable and felt safer than those that did not.…”

Section: Sling Use Guidelinesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Proper Sling Selection and Application While Using Patient Lifts

Baptiste

Cleerey²,

Matz³

et al. 2008

Rehabilitation Nursing

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“…There is moderate evidence to support the need for improvements with sling design (MDA, 1994;Norton, 2000), position of brakes and handles, mechanisms for raising and lowering, maneuverability (Bell, 1984), and training for proper use of lifts (Olsson & Brandt, 1992). Other issues that need attention are patient dignity and lift instability (Le Bon & Forrester, 1997;McGuire et al, 1996). …”

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confidence: 99%

Evidence-Based Practices for Safe Patient Handling and Movement

Nelson

Baptiste

2006

BMM

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Efforts to reduce injuries associated with patient handling are often based on tradition and personal experience rather than scientific evidence. The purpose of this article is to summarize current evidence for interventions designed to reduce caregiver injuries, a significant problem for decades. Despite strong evidence, published over three decades, the most commonly used strategies have strong evidence that demonstrate they are ineffective. There is a growing body of evidence to support newer interventions that are effective or show promise in reducing musculoskeletal pain and injuries in care providers. The authors have organized potential solutions into three established ergonomic solution types: engineering based, administrative, and behavioral. For each intervention, the level of evidence to support its use is provided.Key words: work-related musculoskeletal injuries, patient handling, no lift policy, ergonomics, lifting techniques, nurse safety Strategies to prevent or minimize work-related musculoskeletal injuries associated with patient handling are often based on tradition and personal experience rather than scientific evidence. The most common patient handling approaches in the United States include manual patient lifting, classes in body mechanics, training in safe lifting techniques, and back belts. Surprisingly there is strong evidence that each of these commonly used approaches is not effective in reducing caregiver injuries. A major paradigm shift is needed away from these ineffective approaches towards the following evidence-based practices: (a) patient handling equipment/devices, (b) patient care ergonomic assessment protocols, (c) no lift policies, (d) training on proper use of patient handling equipment/devices, and (e) patient lift teams. Promising new interventions, which are still being tested, include use of unit-based peer leaders and clinical tools, such as algorithms and patient assessment protocols. Given the complexity of this high-risk, high volume, highcost problem, multifaceted programs are more likely to be effective than any single intervention. This new call for action includes systematic change in health care facilities across the continuum of care as well as a new curriculum for schools of nursing. Statement of the ProblemNursing personnel are consistently listed as one of the top ten occupations for work-related musculoskeletal disorders, with incidence rates of 8.8 per 100 in hospital settings and 13.5 per 100 in nursing home settings (Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2002). These are considered to be low estimates, since underreporting of injuries in nursing is common (U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, 1999). Aggregated data on prevalence of back injury, compiled from over 80 studies, revealed an international worldwide point prevalence of approximately 17%, an annual prevalence of 40-50% and a lifetime prevalence of 35-80% (Hignett, 1996). While there has been a steady decline in the rates of most occupational injuries starting in 1992, work-related musculos...

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“…On the whole, little is known about how patients perceive transfers. Attention to their perceptions is probably essential when developing equipment, methods and policies for patient transfer work, and when developing and evaluating intervention programmes aimed at improving the conditions of these work tasks (McGuire et al 1996a, 1996b, Brown Wilson 2001. Until now, the focus has merely been on preventing musculoskeletal disorders and injuries among health care professionals (Brown Wilson 2001).…”

Section: Issues and Innovations In Nursing Practicementioning

confidence: 99%