Feasibility of an evidence-based stretching program on healthcare worker pain scores and professional quality of life

Lija Gireesh

doi:10.17918/etd-7851

Background: The Occupational Safety and Health Administration and Bureau of Labor Statistics deems hospitals as one of the most hazardous places to work, with injury rates almost twice the rate found in construction and manufacturing industries. Work related musculoskeletal disorders adversely affect the health and well-being of the health care workers. Pain is the most common symptom associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to implement and evaluate the effects of an evidence- based stretching program on generalized pain scores and professional quality of life among healthcare workers who experience musculoskeletal disorders. The hypothesis for this study was engaging in a ten minute evidence-based stretching program during work hours for four weeks would decrease generalized pain scores and improve professional quality of life for healthcare workers who experience musculoskeletal disorders. Methods: This project was a pre-test, post-test one-group comparative design feasibility study using a convenience sample of healthcare workers from inpatient medical surgical units in a tertiary care hospital. The intervention was a ten-minute evidence-based stretching program during work hours for four weeks. The participants were assessed for generalized pain and professional quality of life before and after the intervention. Evaluation: Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 24 software. Data was cleaned, coded and checked for shape of distribution and outliers. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the sample. In order to test the hypothesis, a Wilcoxon Signed Rank test was used to compare pain scores and a paired -T test was used to compare professional quality of life before and after the intervention. Results: The findings using a Wilcoxon signed rank test indicated a statistically significant decrease in pain scores from baseline to post intervention (M = 2.29, SD 1.22 vs M = 1.27, SD 1.02, p < 0.001). A paired-T test found a statistically significant decrease in secondary traumatic stress (component of professional quality of life) (M = 20.96, SD 5.25 vs M = 19.64, SD 5.08, 95% CI = 0.47 - 2.17, t (43) = 3.12, p = 0.003). No statistically significant differences were found for compassion satisfaction (M = 40.8, SD 5.42 vs M = 41.27, SD 5.03, 95% CI = -1.46 - 0.51, t (43) = -0.98, p = 0.335) and burn out (M = 21.32, SD 5.24 vs M = 20.61, SD 5.22, 95% CI = -0. 37 - 1.78, t (43) = 1.32, p = 0.193) pre to post intervention. Clinical Implications: The findings of this project showed feasibility of an evidence-based stretching program to significantly reduce pain scores and improve professional quality of life among healthcare workers who experience musculoskeletal disorders. The findings of this study could be used to inform a hospital wide study to see if a larger sample of healthcare workers could benefit from this type of program. Future studies could be directed at long-term follow-up of outcomes, a cost benefit analysis, and examination of impact on long-term behavior changes to sustain health habits.

Feasibility of an evidence-based stretching program on healthcare worker pain scores and professional quality of life

Files and links (1)

Abstract

Metrics

Details

Feasibility of an evidence-based stretching program on healthcare worker pain scores and professional quality of life

Files and links (1)

Abstract

Metrics

Details

Drexel University Social media