- A study of body mechanics – body mechanics during transfer of a patient from a lying to sitting position –
- Publish Date : 2003/03/01 Vol.3
- Authors :
- Naoki ONODERA, Koichi OGAWA, Tokyo Denki University
Yuko OKUBO, Jiti Medical School , School of Nursing
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 3, No. 1, 25/30, 1997.
A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of position and the bed height when lifting a patient from a lying to sitting position. Eight student nurses lifted a female volunteer who served as the patient. Three different standing positions at bed side and two different bed heights were used. The experiments were done with and without patient assistance while each nurse lifted.
A pair of forceshoes, which can measure the left and right ground reaction forces, was developed. The forceshoes were able to measure the ground reaction forces independently at the toe and heel. For each lifting task, normal reaction forces and the standing position of nurses were measured to determine the center of balance. The data thus obtained were used to analyze the center of balance, the impulse and the duration of lifting.
On the whole, it was shown that (1) the lifting time appeared to be decreased when the nurses stood at the upper part rather than lower part of the bed. (2) The loci of center of balance formed a strait line and it was shown that moderate level of lifting exertion to sit the patient upright was required at a high bed height, standing toward the upper part of a bed and with patient assistance.
Keywords: Body mechanics, Ground reaction force, Lifting, Patient assistance
- A study of nurses’ back pain and patient lifting aids in a hospital
- Publish Date : 2003/03/01 Vol.3
- Authors :
- Koichi OGAWA, Tokyo Denki University
Rosemary CHESSON, The Robert Gordon University
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 3, No.1, 19/24, 1997.
In October, 1995, a questionnaire on back pain and mechanical aids was distributed to 419 nurses working at Woodend Hospital (beds: 589, staff: 1220) in Aberdeen, Scotland and 229 (responded rate: 55.4%) were returned. It was reported that 52% of the sample were affected by back pain within the previous 12 months (1985). Our investigation in 1995 showed that only 13.5% of 229 respondents had back pain within the previous 12 months. This may be the result of manual handling operations regulation being enforced since 1993. The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the most physically stressful duties on the ward; (2) to ascertain the diffusion of biomechanics among nurses; (3) to determine the number of nurses attending the patient handling course; (4) to determine the back pain rate at the hospital; (5) to determine requirements for mechanical aids for patient handling. The following results were obtained: (1) The most commonly used lifting method was the Australian lift (46.2%). (2) The term ‘biomechanics’ was known by 66.8% of the nurses and 74.8% were practicing patient moving and lifting with conscious of biomechanics. (3) 83.4% of the respondents recognized ‘biomechanics’ useful for patient lifting, but only 56.3% attended to the course. (4) 13.5% of respondents claimed to have had at least one episode of work-related back pain in the previous 12 months. (5) When new machines for patient moving and lifting were developed, 79.9% of the respondents wanted to use these devices. It was found that equipment of lifting aids that are in daily use include the Hoist (48.9%), Patient Handling Sling (14.3%), Ambulift (12.1%) and Easy Slide (11.0%).
Keywords: Back pain, Patient handling, Patient lifting, Lifting aids
- Physics in nurse education
- Publish Date : 2003/03/01 Vol.3
- Authors :
- Masako HIRATA, Kobe City College of Nursing
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 3, No. 2, 15/18, 1997.
Nurse education is currently undergoing rapid and extensive change. Not only have there been changes in approaches to teaching and the curriculum, but there have also been changes in the way that nurse education is managed, namely moves into institutes of higher education.
It is said that the growth of scientific knowledge over the last two decades has increased the potential benefits of scientifically based patient care by contributing to the theory of clinical care. And, so, if they include natural science into nursing theory, the theory-practice gap in nursing may be narrowed.
But there is little evidence that knowledge of physics especially is being fully incorporated into nursing theory and practice, although one of the reasons may be due to the nurses’ relative disinterest in physics.
This paper shows simple but important examples that attempt to apply physics to nursing and addresses the need to adopt physics in nurse education.
If nurse educators leave physics outside nursing theory, they will weaken the basis of clinical practice and widen the theory-practice gap.
Keywords: Physics, Nurse education, Theory-practice gap
- Active wireless electrodes for surface electromyography
- Publish Date : 2003/03/01 Vol.3
- Authors :
- Masayuki OHYAMA, Satoshi HONDA, Keio University
Hitoshi UCHIDA, Noriyoshi MATSUO, Suzuki Motor Corporation
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol.3, No.1, 8/14, 1997.
An active electrode with a built-in transmitter (named wireless electrode) is presented, which derives surface EMG without any skin preparation and conductive paste due to impedance transforming. Subjects are less restricted with the present wireless electrode than with the conventional telemetry system because of no connecting wires between the electrode and the transmitter. Moreover, it is not affected by noise caused by the movement of wires. Since FM modulation is used in the FM radio band (76-90 MHZ), we can use a commercially available FM radio as a receiver.
Keywords: Electrode, Telemetry, EMG, Electromyography, Electromyograph
- A study on relationship between key displacement-force characteristics and human sensation on thin keyboards
- Publish Date : 2003/03/01 Vol.3
- Authors :
- Tyohji YOSHITAKE, Human Factors, IBM Japan
Tetsuo KATUURA, Department of Ergonomics, Faculty of Engineering, Chiba Univ.
- Report Outline :
- Original article
Appeared on Ergonomics of Human System Interaction Vol. 3, No.1, 1/7, 1997.
This paper describes a study on the relationship between key displacement-force characteristics and human sensation on thin keyboards with a rubber switch mechanism. Six kinds of key switches were selected out of three notebook PC keyboards, and their key displacement-force curves were measured. Thirty-three participants were asked to evaluate five sensory degrees (i.e. key pressure, key travel, tactile feedback, key sound and key shakiness) of six key switches by using the magnitude estimation method. After the evaluations, they were also asked which keyboards are preferred most and worst. Analysis revealed that sensation on key pressure was significantly related to the force at the early stage (0.5 mm) of key displacement, but not to related to the force at the initial peak. It was also found that sensation regards key travel was correlated to the proportion of the travel distance to the initial dip to the full travel distance. These results contribute to the development of key switches to design-in an intended key feeling.
Keywords: Displacement-force curve, Key switch, Key feeling, Tactile feedback, Thin keyboard
