Risk Assessment of Musculoskeletal Disorders Related to Patient Transfer Tasks Using the Direct Nurse Observation Instrument Method

Nurses represent an important job group commonly affected by musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs). One of the main reasons is patient transfer tasks. Handling patients using a safe work technique is considered as one prevention strategy when integrated in multidimensional interventions.
The aim of this study was to assess the musculoskeletal disorders risks related to patient transfers in nursing personnel using the direct nurse observation instrument (DINO) method.
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 250 nurses working in affiliated hospitals of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in 2015. Data were collected by Nordic questioners and the DINO index check list. The validity and reliability of the DINO checklist were reviewed and approved. To analyze the data, independent t- test, chi-square test and logistic regression were used.
The prevalence of MSDs was 87.6% in a 12-month period. The average result of the DINO checklist was 9.73 points (SD = 1.8), which can suggest that the way in which the technical transfer was carried out might not have been the safest. The results from logistic regression showed that the occurrence of MSDs in nursing staff was significantly associated with final scoring of the DINO index (P According to the findings of the current study, DINO is an appropriate tool to assess MSDs risk due to patient handling in the nursing personnel. This method can be used in the evaluation of patient transfer educational programs and also to identify and assess an unsafe work technique used by the nurses.