Introduction :
The majority of patients in the infirmary ward are bed bound and dependent. Hence, It is expected that most of the nursing tasks provided to the patients would be performed on the bed. In this regard, research studies showed that when nursing staffs are to manoeuvre dependent patients, such as transporting patients from bed to bed, assisting patients in wearing bed clothes and cleaning bed, unsatisfactory working postures on the part of the nursing staffs would very likely happen. (Petzäll, Berglund & Lundberg, 2001).
The most common form of injuries suffered by nursing staffs who involve in manoeuvring dependent patients is low back pain (LBP) and the rate of occurrence of LBP varies from 40% to 90% among nursing staffs worldwide. (Ayane, Akele, Feleke, Mesfin, Mohammed & Dido, 2023). According to data provided by the World Health Organization, up to 72% of nursing staffs are currently suffering from non-specific chronic LBP. (The World Health Organization, 2024)
On one hand, an effective postural management system carried out by nursing staff would enhance patient care and reduce risks of injuries associated with manual handling of patients. On the other hand, such postural management system would benefit patients as well. Research studies showed that a postural management system provided to nursing staffs would reduce patients' pressure at the shoulders and greater trochanter when being handled in supine-lying position and side-lying position respectively, thereby reducing the risk of forming pressure injury and the economic cost for combating such risk. (Haworth, Sumner, Mercado-Palomino, Mbuli, Stockley & Chohan, 2019).
Methodology :
-Pre-test questionnaires of nursing staffs and supporting staffs
To investigate the knowledge and skills of nursing staffs and supporting staffs on using turning beds, multiple choice questions of questionnaires were designed in English and Chinese format accordingly.
-Education talk on operation of turning-bed program
Using education materials e.g. powerpoint, education video on using and setting up a turning-bed program so as to educate, reinforce and clarify the misconception of the pre-test questionnaires among nursing staffs and supporting staffs.
-Workshop of using Turning-bed Program (nursing staffs and supporting staffs)
Knowledge: The content of workshop includes the section of Assessment, Monitoring & documentation.
Practical: Return demonstration in using turning bed
-Post- test questionnaires of nursing staff and supporting staff
To evaluate the performance after education talk and workshop
-Evaluation of project
To obtain the feedback from participants for better improvement of the program
Result & Outcome :
Result
Data analysis was performed after data collection and the statistics are shown as follows:
Performance of nurse(questionnaire):
Before education :average score=6.8
After education : average score =9.2
Performance of supporting staff:
Before education :average score=6.7
After education : average score =8.8
Return demonstration of using turning bed
Compliance rate of of nurse: from 76.5% to 100%
Compliance rate of supporting staff:from 72.1% to 100%
Evaluation of project
More than 90% of feedback from participants are positive.
Outcome:
1)Reduction of new developed pressure injuries in infirmary patients who were using turning bed;
2)Nursing staffs are able to set up an individualized turning bed program for patients;
3)Supporting staffs are able to observe and manage the turning bed
