Citation

Cheng AS, Chan EP. J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2009; 51(12): 1413-1421.

Affiliation

From the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences (Dr Cheng), The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong; and Excel Rehabilitation Centre (Mr Chan), Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2009, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/JOM.0b013e3181bfb2a8

PMID

19952790

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To examine the effect of individual job coaching and use of health threat in a job-specific occupational health education program in preventing work-related musculoskeletal back injuries during manual materials handling in construction laborers. METHODS:: Two hundred five laborers were recruited by 3-stage cluster sampling process and randomly assigned to receive different education programs on manual materials handling. Control group was given a conventional program, whereas experimental group received a job-specific program. RESULTS:: A statistically significant group difference was found in the knowledge and practical skills on manual materials handling after training (P < 0.0001). Furthermore, the results from 1-year cumulative incidence revealed a significantly lesser number of first-time reports of work-related musculoskeletal back injuries in the experimental group. CONCLUSIONS:: These results indicate that job-specific education is an effective preventive strategy for work-related musculoskeletal back injury.

Language: en