EFFECTS OF A STRUCTURED ERGONOMIC TRAINING ON KNOWLEDGE AND UTILIZATION OF ERGONOMICS AMONG BANKERS–A SINGLE-BLIND PRAGMATIC RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED TRIAL

Abstract

Background
Poor ergonomic knowledge and its utilization is a significant risk factor for work-related musculoskeletal disorders reported to be high among bankers. Empirical evidence of an effective structured ergonomic training intervention on the knowledge and utilization (KU) of ergonomics for this population is lacking.

Objectives
This study sought to determine the effectiveness of a structured ergonomic training intervention on the KU of ergonomics principles among bankers in Nigeria.

Methods
This is a single-blind pragmatic randomized controlled trial with a cluster-randomization of 45 Nigerian bankers into intervention (structured ergonomic training - SET, n = 27) and control (placebo ergonomic training - PET, n = 18) groups. Ergonomic Knowledge/Utilization before (KU1) and after (KU2) training was assessed using a questionnaire developed through a two-step expert validation process. Data were analyzed descriptively and inferentially using independent and paired t-tests at α=0.05.

Results
At baseline, the participants’ variables of age (28.52 ± 2.89years vs 28.72 ± 3.34years), BMI (25.14 ± 3.75 kgm−2 vs 23.45 ± 3.51kgm−2), and KU1(2.96 ± 1.65 vs 2.56 ± 1.72) of both groups (SET vs PET) were comparable (p > 0.05). However, the KU2 (t = 6.70, p < 0.0001) and change in KU (t = 7.05, p < 0.0001) were significantly higher in SET (7.33 ± 1.33and 4.37 ± 1.69 respectively) than in PET (2.93 ± 2.34 and 0.47 ± 1.77 respectively).

Conclusion
This study finding revealed a low level of knowledge and utilization of ergonomic principles among Nigerian bankers and showed that structured ergonomic training protocol is effective in improving the knowledge and utilization of ergonomic principles among Nigerian bankers. A nationwide ergonomic training and evaluation using this training manual is recommended.