Effectiveness of Ergonomic Intervention

Phase 4

Completed

• Conditions: Neck Pain; Upper Extremity; Lower Extremity; Low Back Pain
• Interventions: Other: Ergonomic Intervention

• Registration Number: NCT00791596
• Lead Sponsor: University of Bologna

Brief Summary

This Research study aims to investigate the long term effectiveness of a workstation ergonomic intervention for work-related posture and low back pain (LBP) of Video Display Terminal (VDT) workers

Detailed Description

A non-randomized, crossover trial design was used with follow-up repeated 6, 12, and 30 months from baseline in the first intervention period and then beginning at 6 months following the crossover.

The administrative offices in the two main buildings of the town hall of Forlì, Italy.

The study population was composed of 400 employees, who used VDTs for at least 20 hours a week, of whom we randomly selected 100 participants from each building. Of the 200 initial participants, 153 completed the study; the dropouts were due to illness/injury or maternity.

Participants were assigned to intervention or control during the first period and then crossed over after a 30-month washout. The intervention used in this investigation was an ergonomic adjustment of the VDT workstation design.

Our study showed that the workstation ergonomic adjustment improved work-related posture and in reducing LBP in VDT operators among subjects who received the intervention both in the first period and in the crossover, and maintained these positive effects for at least 30 months.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2005-01
• Primary Completion: 2005-06
• Study Completion: 2007-12
• Status Verified: 2008-10
• Study First Submitted: 2008-11-13
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-11-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2008-11-13
• Study First Posted: 2008-11-14
• Last Update Posted: 2008-11-14

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 200

Inclusion Criteria

• The study population was composed of 400 employees, who used VDTs for at least 20 hours a week

Exclusion Criteria

• Subjects were excluded if pregnant or had a medical history of serious injury, spinal surgery, malignant pathology, or severe disability

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
1	Ergonomic Intervention	The first Arm received the intervention between baseline and the first follow-up, whereas the second Arm was the Control group
2	Ergonomic Intervention	The second Arm received the intervention between the third and the fourth follow-up, whereas the first Arm was the Control group

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
R.E.B.A. (Rapid Entire Body Assessment) method	Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 30 months, 36 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Pain Drawing with a Visual Analogue Scale	Baseline, 6 months, 12 months, 30 months, 36 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Bologna; 🇮🇹 Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy