ANTHROPOMETRIC VARIABILITY, EQUIPMENT USABILITY AND MUSCULOSKELETAL PAIN IN A GROUP OF NURSES IN THE WESTERN CAPE

This study examined the anthropometry and anthropometric fit of a grou p of nurses in Western Cape private hospitals, Anthropometric variable s mere measured using a sample of nurses and a correlation matrix gene rated. All nurses were given a questionnaire concerned with operationa l problems in the work environment and musculoskeletal pain. The nurse s reported numerous problems in the working environment, including lum bar backache, inadequate space and equipment that caused bodily discom fort. There were consistent, statistically significant associations be tween the frequency of occurrence of these problems and the anthropome tric data indicating that the problems were caused or amplified by bod y size variability and were not simply general usability problems whic h would affect all nurses irrespective of their body: dimensions. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.