MINIMAL FORCES TO MOVE PATIENTS

Objectives. Health care workers who have patient transfer duties are a t risk for back injury. Transferring,a patients between beds and gurne ys is a rigorous pulling task that requires back, leg, and arm strengt h. This study analyzed the efficiency of commercially available transf er devices, namely a patient roller, patient shifter, and draw sheet. Method. With the use of one or two force scales attached to each trans fer device, the amount of force needed to transfer 15 participants, we ighing from 101 lb to 240 lb, back and forth between a bed and a gurne y was measured Ten transfers per device per participant were performed . Results. The patient roller was superior to the patient shifter and draw sheet in reducing transfer forces. Additionally, gurney-to-bed tr ansfers tended to be move demanding for all transfer devices and for h eavier participants. Conclusions. The patient roller was the most effi cient transfer device in moving participants compared with the draw sh eet and patient shifter. Transfer forces can be estimated with the use of linear equations, with patient weight, direction of transfer, and transfer device as the independent variables. These estimated forces c an assist occupational therapists in the returning their injured healt h care coworkers to patient transfer duties. The results further indic ated that high forces are required to transfer patients; therefore, pa tient-transfer personnel should obtain assistance when moving patients .