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Ergonomic risks in the nursing staff at the Hospital San Vicente de Paul, Ecuador

Abstract:

Objective: To characterize the ergonomic risks and damages present in the nursing staff at the Hospital San Vicente de Paúl, Ecuador. Materials and Methods: A descriptive study with a cross-sectional quantitative approach was carried out in the aforementioned hospital, during 2020. 87 nurses were included to whom the ERGOPAR questionnaire was applied. Results: Of the evaluated subjects, they had an age range between 28-37 years, predominantly women (75.9%). Its distribution in the different services: 23.2% (n=20) emergency, 14.3% (n=13) pediatrics, 13.9% (n=12) internal medicine and gynecology. According to the work schedule, 96.4% (n=84) attend a rotating shift. Similarly, it is evidenced that 62.2% of the nursing staff is walking for more than 4 hours, while 5.7% remain standing, 4.6% go up and down different levels and 2.3% are seated. Regarding the presence of muscle pain or discomfort, 94.3% had cervical symptoms, 87.4% dorsal-lumbar, 59.7% in the feet and 50.6% in the legs whose pain caused impediments at the time to carry out the current job, which therefore has had consequences in the tasks of his job. Finally, 71.4% showed a high ergonomic risk, while 26.6% showed a moderate risk. Conclusion: The nursing staff, at the San Vicente de Paúl Hospital in Ecuador, has a high frequency of symptoms in the body segments of the neck, back, legs and feet, the main cause of cervical, dorsal-lumbar and leg affectations as a result of work activities.