To what extent do paramedics apply safe handling principles when transferring patients from stair chairs to stretchers?

Abstract

The efficiency of training programmes in handling designed to prevent injuries has rarely been demonstrated by studies in the workplace. This study aimed to identify factors that may favour or inhibit the application of safe handling principles by paramedics performing full-body transfers of patients from a stair chair to a stretcher. In an observational field study, handling methods used in 45 patient transfers from a stair chair to stretcher were characterised. Principles concerning the physical environment seem to be applied frequently, but those applicable during the transfer are neglected. Principles taught during training may not be applied due to the physical constraints of the workplace and the underestimation of risk exposure. The results suggest that training should be enhanced, not by focussing on handling techniques but by focussing on compromise and the capacity to adapt work techniques based on the working context and the team-mate.

Practitioner Summary

To assess safe handling principles applied by paramedics transferring patients from stair chairs to stretchers, an observational field study and a posteriori analysis were conducted. The results suggest that training should focus more on the ability to adapt work techniques according to the work context and the team-mate.

Abbreviations: MSDs: musculoskeletal disorders; IRSST: Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

Keywords:

• Prehospital emergency care
• training
• safe patient handling
• observational study
• patient transfer

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contributions of all the paramedics who gave us permission to use their data for this study. We are grateful to all the ambulance companies that hosted the research team, and the Human Research Ethics Board of Laval University for providing ethical clearance for this research. We gratefully acknowledge the translation work and suggestions by Zofia Laubitz.

Notes

1 Operation of the braking system (operation #4) does not prevent the stretcher wheels from pivoting around their vertical axis, resulting in small movements by the stretcher when someone leans against it, even though the wheels are blocked by the brakes.

Additional information

Funding

This project was supported by the Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail (IRSST), Grant # 0099-8190. DL was supported by a research scholarship from IRSST.