Evaluating Different Methods of Showering and Washing Patients: Assessing Ergonomic, Time, and Quality Aspects

Besides patient handling tasks, postural (or static) load is a well-known, yet underestimated, occupational health risk related to disabling back pain in nurses. Exposure is high during tasks such as washing. This descriptive study intends to provide quantitative insight into postural load during hygiene tasks. One hundred twelve standardized procedures performed by 4 nurses using 6 types of equipment and 2 washing techniques on role-playing patients with varying mobility were filmed. Quantitative data on time and postural load were collected by analyzing each second of video and by subjective data via surveys. Patient mobility, type of equipment, and washing technique were related significantly to hygiene care duration. The skill of the nurse, type of equipment, and mobility were linked to the postural load of the back. The nurses expressed an overall lower satisfaction with procedures on the high-low bed. Recommendations for reducing duration and extent of static load are given, but more research is needed.

Knibbe HJJ, Knibbe NE, Heitink DEBL

Keywords: nursing, back pain, ergonomics, static load, washing, showering, safe patient handling