A biomechanical and ergonomic evaluation of patient transferring tasks: wheelchair to shower chair and shower chair to wheelchair

A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate five different manual techniques (two-person manual lifting; rocking and pulling the patient using a gait belt with two persons; walking belt with one and two persons) and three different mechanical hoists (Hoyer lift, Trans-Aid and Ambulift) for transferring patients from wheelchair to shower chair and shower chair to wheelchair. Six female nursing students with prior patient transfer experience served both as nurses and as passive patients. Static biomechanical evaluation showed that the mean trunk flexion moments, erector spinae muscle forces and compressive and shear forces at the L5S1 disc for the four pulling methods ranged from 92 to 125 Nm, 1845 to 2507 N, 1973 to 2641 N and 442 to 580 N, respectively, as compared to about 213 Nm, 4260 N, 5050 N and 926 N for two-person manual lifting. Perceived stress ratings for the shoulder, upper back, lower back and whole body were significantly lower for pulling methods than those for lifting the patient (p less than or equal to 0.01). Patients found pulling techniques, except the gait belt, to be more comfortable and secure than the lifting method (p less than or equal to 0.01). However, most of the nurses believed that Medesign and the one-person walking belt would not work on those patients who cannot bear weight and those who are heavy, contracted or combative. A two-person walking belt was the most preferred method. Two out of three hoists (Hoyer lift and Trans-Aid) were perceived by the nurses to be more stressful than one- and two-person walking belts. The patients found these two hoists to be more uncomfortable and less secure than with three of the five manual methods (one- and two-person walking belts and Medesign). Pulling techniques and hoists took significantly longer amounts of time to make the transfer than manually lifting the patient (p less than or equal to 0.01). The two-person walking belt, using a gentle rocking motion to utilize momentum and a pulling technique, and Ambulift are recommended for transferring patients from wheelchair to shower chair and shower chair to wheelchair.