Patient handling is a major risk-factor for the development of musculoskeletal injuries in healthcare providers. To have a significant impact on injury reduction related to patient handling will require the incorporation of technology. This project is to investigate a piece of technology that has been designed to facilitate in-bed patient handling: The Vendlet.

The purpose of this research project is to assess the ability of the Vendlet system outfitted on a Span-America Medical Systems (SAMS) bed to reduce the physical load on healthcare providers performing patient handling tasks. This evidence-based outcomes will be used to support the mitigation of the Vendlet from the European market into the Canadian market. The SAMS bed is currently available in North America and has several adjustable features to support patient transfer activities.

The project will provide a biomechanical comparison of commonly used patient handling techniques performed using a SAMS bed outfitted with and without a Vendlet patient transfer device. This Vendlet technology has the potential to significantly reduce the musculoskeletal and joint strain of healthcare providers while handling patients.

The General Objectives of this project are as followed:

1. The first research objective is to build complex movement waveform models to help assess kinematic, neuromuscular and force demands related to patient handling and the associated human movement patterns. These waveform models will then be used to best answer our two main research questions.
2. The second research objective is to build a biomechanical shoulder and back model to determine the cumulative load (joint stresses) demands related to patient handling as a means to quantify the risk of injury at these highly vulnerable joints. These cumulative loading models will then be used to best answer our two main research questions.
3. The third and last research objective is to determine the margin of error of a markerless motion capture system compared to a gold standard marker-based motion capture system; to determine the feasibility for future research to be conducted in a health care setting and thus increasing the ecological validity of the assessment during a typical working day.

This project has the following Research Questions:

1. What are the movement technique patterns and physical demands associated with performing patient handling techniques with and without the use of medical bed assistive technology?
2. What effect does training have on patient handling techniques? Specifically, does training help improve the healthcare worker's movement patterns as well as reduce physical load demands?

This project has the following Research hypotheses:

1. It is hypothesized that the use of technology (Vendlet system coupled with the SAMS bed) will reduce the physical demands of healthcare providers while handling patients.
2. Training safe patient handling techniques will result in safer patient handling practices and reduce physical demands while handling patients due to improved movement techniques.

Introduction

This project will provide a biomechanical comparison of commonly used patient handling techniques, performed using a Span-America Medical Systems (SAMS) long-term care bed outfitted with and without a Vendlet patient turning system. The Vendlet is a powered patient turning aid that replaces the bed-rail system of the hospital bed. Using a set of rollers that can be adjusted for height, the Vendlet mechanically moves the bed sheet beneath the patient in a controlled manner. The system can assist in turning the patient, as well as repositioning them in the bed. The SAMS long-term care bed is highly adjustable, has been designed to facilitate patient handling and was designed around patient safety. The researchers will investigate both technologies (the Vendlet and SAMS long-term care bed) and quantify the reduction physical demands of patient handling when combined.

Methods:

30 nursing students will be recruited from a regional university and college programs. Diversity in participant recruitment will be based on the enrolment proportion in the regional postsecondary programs. Each participant will be required to attend two different sessions:

1. During the first session, participants will receive full instructions on how to use the SAMS Advantage Ready Wide bed and the Vendlet system and will be provided with time to familiarize themselves with the technology. Participants will perform 4 different patient repositioning techniques associated with turning the patient: 1- reposition the patient vertically to the head of the bed. 2- repositioning horizontally in bed from one side to the other side of the bed. 3- turning a patient from their back to their side, away from the caregiver. 4- placing the patient in a sling. Each of the techniques will be performed with the two medical bed configurations: a) the SAMS Advantage Ready Wide hospital bed on its own; and b) with the Vendlet system mounted on the SAMS bed. The order of the repositioning techniques will be randomized, and each patient repositioning technique will be performed 3 times.

   Once the first session is completed, each participant will receive the intervention: proper training on patient handling care, as well as proper training on technology use, while handling a patient by a healthcare ergonomist (M. Léger) and an occupational therapist (P. Beck).

2. During the second session, participants will return to the laboratory to perform the same 4 different patient repositioning techniques, using both bed configurations, while applying their new training techniques.

Throughout all experimental sessions, the following equipment will be used: 1- Motion capture system (to track individual motions and patient handling performances and develop a biomechanical model to assess joint stress); 2- Surface electromyography (EMG) (to monitor neuromuscular activity and effort); 3- galvanic skin response system and a heart rate monitor (to assess levels of stress); 4- Pressure Mats (bed and foot mats will be used to measure pressure distribution/load demands of handling a patient. Participants' feedback will also be recorded using exit surveys.

Statistical Analysis

A factorial repeated measure mixed analysis of variance (ANOVA) with a within factors (independent variables: techniques) and two between factor (beds and training) will be performed to evaluate differences between movement patterns, neuromuscular activity, perceived discomfort, heart rate, electrodermal activity, foot pressure distribution and bed pressure distribution (dependent variables). Prior to running the factorial repeated measures ANOVA, Skewness and Kutosis will be assessed for normal distribution with a z-score set at 3,29. The Mulchy's test will be used to assess the sphericity assumption. When the sphericity assumption is violated, the Greenhouse Geiser will be used as a correction. The Alpha level will be set at p < .05, and if any significant interactions are found, the Tukey correction will be used as a post hoc analysis. Principal Component Analysis will be incorporated to determine the modes of variation in both the kinematic and kinetic (shoulder and joint loads) biomechanical motion patterns (waveforms), while performing the patient handling techniques with and without the incorporated technology.

Inclusion Criteria:

- One-month history of no pain or injury in the low back or shoulder region.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Participant received a training on proper patient handling techniques.

Participants will be masked of the proper technique/training during the pre-intervention session (with and without the use of technology). Specifically, on how to manually move the patient in both beds.