The need for educating healthcare professionals regarding good musculoskeletal health practice

• Main Authors: Mohd Yusoff, Nurul Shazlina, Firdaus, Mohd Khairul Zul Hasymi, Che Jamaludin, Farrah Ilyani, Che Hasan, Muhammad Kamil
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Elsevier 2019
• Subjects: RT Nursing
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/75221/1/The%20need%20for%20educating%20healthcare%20professionals%20regarding%20good%20musculoskeletal%20health%20practice%20_%20Elsevier%20Enhanced%20Reader.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/75221/8/75221_The%20need%20for%20educating%20healthcare%20professionals%20regarding%20good%20musculoskeletal%20health%20practice_Scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/75221/; https://www.journals.elsevier.com/enfermeria-clinica

Objective The objective of this study was to assess the level of knowledge and practice of body mechanics towards preserving musculoskeletal health in daily routine activities of HCPs (medical officers, staff nurses, community health nurses, assistant medical officers, physiotherapists, and assistant nurses) from Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan, Pahang. Method A cross-sectional study was conducted with convenience sampling employed across five different departments. The departments were a department of medical, surgical, orthopedics, emergency and rehabilitation. The samples were selected according to a minimum of two years of clinical experience without any history of low back surgery. An instrument consists of socio-demographic background, knowledge on body mechanics and Owestry Low Back Pain Disability Index Questionnaire was used in this study. Results A total of 139 HCPs were recruited including medical officers, staff nurses, community health nurses, assistant medical officers, physiotherapists, and assistant nurses. A self-administered questionnaire pertaining to knowledge revealed that 73.4% of HCPs had inadequate knowledge of musculoskeletal body mechanics. Among all, 90.6% (minimal: 9.4%, moderate: 43.2%, severe: 42.4%, crippled: 5.0%) of HCPs showed moderate to crippled disability using Oswestry Disability Index classifications indicating the poor practice of body mechanics while working. Conclusion The findings of this study indicate that a lack of knowledge among healthcare professionals lead to the inadequate practice of preserving musculoskeletal health while carrying out duty in caring patients. It is suggested that enforcing and emphasizing health education for healthcare professionals is urgently needed towards reducing the risk of the musculoskeletal problem among healthcare professionals.