Zelenka JP, Floren AE, Jordan JJ, et al.
The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupationa.... Date of publication 1996 May 1;volume 50(5):354-61.
1. Am J Occup Ther. 1996 May;50(5):354-61. doi: 10.5014/ajot.50.5.354.
Minimal forces to move patients.
Zelenka JP(1), Floren AE, Jordan JJ.
Author information:
(1)McLeod Work Recovery Center, Occupational Health Services, McLeod Regional
Medical Center, Florence, South Carolina 29501-0551, USA.
OBJECTIVES: Health care workers who have patient transfer duties are at risk for
back injury. Transferring patients between beds and gurneys is a rigorous
pulling task that requires back, leg, and arm strength. This study analyzed the
efficiency of commercially available transfer devices, namely a patient roller,
patient shifter, and draw sheet.
METHOD: With the use of one or two force scales attached to each transfer
device, the amount of force needed to transfer 15 participants, weighing from
101 lb to 240 lb, back and forth between a bed and a gurney was measured. Ten
transfers per device per participant were performed.
RESULTS: The patient roller was superior to the patient shifter and draw sheet
in reducing transfer forces. Additionally, gurney-to-bed transfers tended to be
more demanding for all transfer devices and for heavier participants.
CONCLUSIONS: The patient roller was the most efficient transfer device in moving
participants compared with the draw sheet and patient shifter. Transfer forces
can be estimated with the use of linear equations, with patient weight,
direction of transfer, and transfer device as the independent variables. These
estimated forces can assist occupational therapists in the returning their
injured health care coworkers to patient transfer duties. The results further
indicated that high forces are required to transfer patients; therefore,
patient-transfer personnel should obtain assistance when moving patients.
DOI: 10.5014/ajot.50.5.354
PMID: 8728665 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
