Patient lateral transfers between two adjacent surfaces pose high musculoskeletal disorder risks for nurses and patient handlers. The purpose of this research was to examine the ergonomic benefits of utilizing the laterally-tilting function of operating room (OR) tables during such transfers – along with different friction-reducing devices (FRD). This method allows the patient to slide down to the adjacent surface as one nurse guides the transfer and another controls the OR table angle with a remote control. Sixteen nursing students and sixteen college students were recruited to act as nurses and patients, respectively. Two OR table angles were examined: flat and tilted. Three FRD conditions were considered: a standard blanket sheet, a plastic bag, and a slide board. Electromyography (EMG) activities were measured bilaterally from the posterior deltoids, upper trapezii, latissimus dorsi, and lumbar erector spinae muscles. The Borg-CR10 scale was used for participants to rate their perceived physical exertions. The efficiency of each method was measured using a stopwatch. Results showed that the tilted table technique completely replaced the physical efforts that would have been exerted by the pushing-nurse, in that muscle activation did not increase in the pulling-nurse. On the contrary, EMG activities of the pulling-nurse for most of the muscles significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The subjective Borg-ratings also favored the tilted table with significantly lower ratings. However, the tilted table required on average 7.22 s more than the flat table to complete the transfer (p < 0.05). The slide board and plastic bag were associated with significantly lower Borg-ratings and EMG activities for most muscles than blanket sheet, but they both were not significantly different from each other. However, they each required approximately 5 s more than the blanket sheet method to complete the patient transfer (p < 0.05). By switching from flat + blanket sheet to tilted + slide board, EMG activities in all muscles decreased in the range of 18.4–72.3%, and Borg-ratings decreased from about 4 (somewhat difficult) to 1 (very light). The findings of this study propose simple, readily available ergonomic interventions for performing patient lateral transfers that can have significant implications for nurses’ wellbeing and efficiency.

病人在两个相邻表面之间的横向转移给护士和病人操作者带来了很高的肌肉骨骼疾病风险。这项研究的目的是研究在这种转移过程中利用手术室（OR）台的侧倾功能以及不同的减摩装置（FRD）的人体工程学优势。该方法允许患者在一名护士指导转移操作时滑倒至相邻表面，而另一名护士则使用遥控器控制手术台角度。招募了16名护理专业学生和16名大学生作为护士和患者。检查了两个“或”工作台角度：平坦和倾斜。考虑了三种FRD条件：标准毯子，塑料袋和滑板。从后三角肌，上斜方肌，背阔肌和腰直肌脊柱肌两侧测量肌电图（EMG）活动。参与者使用Borg-CR10量表对他们的体力活动进行评分。使用秒表测量每种方法的效率。结果表明，倾斜台技术完全替代了推挤护士会施加的体力劳动，因为在推拉护士中肌肉的激活没有增加。相反，大多数肌肉的牵拉护士的肌电图活动明显降低（p <0.05）。主观的Borg评分也偏爱倾斜表，但评分明显较低。但是，倾斜工作台比平坦工作台平均需要多7.22 s来完成转移（p <0.05）。与大多数毯子相比，滑板和塑料袋与大多数肌肉的Borg评分和EMG活动显着降低有关，但两者之间并无显着差异。但是，它们各自比毯子覆盖方法需要大约5 s多的时间才能完成患者转移（p <0.05）。通过从平面+毯子板切换到倾斜+滑板，所有肌肉的EMG活动降低了18.4–72.3％，Borg评分从大约4（有些困难）降低到1（非常轻）。这项研究的结果提出了一种简单易用的人机工程学干预措施，以进行患者横向转移，这可能对护士的健康和效率产生重大影响。