Assessment of Ergonomic Risks in Surgical Unit Nurses and Factors Influencing These Risks: A Cross-sectional Study.

Abstract

Purpose: The study aimed to assess the ergonomic risks perceived by nurses working in surgical units in terms of biomechanical, environmental, organizational and psychosocial factors, and to identify the factors influencing these risks.

Design: This study employed descriptive and cross-sectional design.

Methods: The study was conducted with 165 nurses working in surgical units of 1 private and 1 university hospital. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form and the Questionnaire Survey of Ergonomic Risks. The scales were administered between March 15, 2023, and April 15, 2023. The researchers gathered data through face-to-face interactions by visiting the nurses in their work environments. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the predictors of ergonomic risks.

Findings: Hospital type was found to be a positive predictor of biomechanical factors (B = 14.308, P < .001), and organizational and psychosocial factors (B = 7.255, P = .048). Working in the operating room unit (B = -8.891, P = .020) was identified as a negative predictor, whereas night shifts (B = 14.963, P = .04) and shift work (B = 9.211, P = .018) were identified as positive predictors of organizational and psychosocial factors.

Conclusions: The results of the study indicated that surgical nurses face high biomechanical, environmental, and organizational and psychosocial risk factors. Working in a university hospital is a risk factor with regard to biomechanical, and organizational and psychosocial factors. Night shifts and shift work are risk factors for organizational and psychosocial factors. Working in the operating room demonstrates a lower risk in terms of organizational and psychosocial factors.