Authors (including presenting author) :
LEUNG KKL(1), LAW LKK(2), CHUEN KHW(2), HO NKF(3), LUI NTC(3), LAU MHL(1), LAM CPY(1), CHAU RMW(1)
Affiliation :
(1)Physiotherapy Department, Kowloon Hospital, (2)Adminstration Division, Kowloon Hospital, (3)Community Nursing Services, Kowloon Hospital
Introduction :
The Hospital Authority perpetually takes a proactive role in providing structured mandatory training to ensure staff occupational safety and health. Manual Handling Operation(MHO) is one of the major job component which accounted for ~17%(559 staff) of Injury-on-Duty(IOD) cases within HA in 2018. With the rapid growth of home care need for elderly population, there is an increasing demand for Community Nursing Services(CNS) to meet client’s needs through holistic cost-effective service model. As the clienteles are mostly frail, cognitively and physically compromised, innate job nature puts the community nurses in a vulnerable situation for MHO injuries while providing “Solo” services in variable and often suboptimal work environment in community. Hence, tactics to minimize the risks in the most practical way is extremely crucial.
Objectives :
The project aims to engage MHO safe practice for community nurse of Kowloon Hospital(KH).
Methodology :
MHO accounted for ~25% of IOD cases in KH(2018). Conventional MHO program including orientation and corporate MHO training video provided basic knowledge and idea of safe practice yet lacking specificity and individuality to CNS in distinctive work environment. In collaboration with CNS, the Physiotherapy Department customized and contextualized the MHO training for community nurse to tackle the uniqueness of work nature and environment.
1.Work-site Visit
Physiotherapists join the CNS routine works -to grasp a thorough understanding of work requirement by community nurses in daily operation. Equipment loading, patient handling skills and working postures were evaluated to and fro from KH to the remote homes of patients.
2.Tailor-made Training
With reference to anthropometric and ergonomic analysis after worksite visit, tailor-made training for illustration of MHO related matters was conducted to all CNS nursing staff. Risk assessment with hazard identification were emphasized during the training. In addition, risk modification with related management skills were also collaboratively formulated.
3.Two-way Practical Workshop
A Two-way participatory practical workshop was conducted to provide hands-on MHO skills in relation to contextual work environment. With immediate input from nurses, practical skills were deliberated and reinforced with sharing of bodily mechanics(individual anthropometry & ergonomics) to minimize MHO related injuries.
Result & Outcome :
The participatory, contextual MHO training for CNS was shown to be effective in engagement with satisfaction. All participants(n=39) agreed that the program enriched their knowledge and increased efficiency of job performance. Preliminary data showed decreased IOD figures.
