CHARACTERIZATION OF PHYSICAL DISCOMFORT RELATED TO ERGONOMICS IN NURSING PROFESSIONALS OF SURGERY CENTERS

Abstract

Objectives: characterizing nursing professionals who work in the surgery center, identifying the complaints related to physical discomfort arising from existing ergonomic risks in the surgery center, as well as its anatomical location, characterizing and correlating the complaints with the work environment, besides verifying the treatment and identifying possible interventions for preventing ergonomic risks. Methodology: This is an exploratory study with a quantitative and qualitative nature. The sample consisted of 22 nursing professionals who work in surgery centers. Results and Discussion: Most of the participants (68.18%) answered that they feel discomfort in the upper limbs, spine or lower limbs, and the most cited places as painful were the shoulders (18.91%), the column (18 , 91%) and the legs (18.91%). Symptoms such as pain (40.74%), aching (22.22%), and fatigue (18.51%) were the most registered complaints. In addition, most of the participants (86.36%) reported that the unit in which they work does not promote any intervention for prevention or treatment of ergonomic risks, and more than half of the participants (63.63%) reported that the discomfort problems they feel are related to the work in the current sector. Professionals suggest a best personal design and a preventive therapy as important decisions for preventing the physical discomfort due to ergonomic problems. Final Thoughts: It is noticed the need of creating an ergonomic risk prevention program in the surgery centers, such as the stimulation of physical activity, the stretching, the postural re-education, and other preventive physiotherapy activities.