Pre-employment physical capacity testing as a predictor of musculoskeletal injury in Victorian paramedics
Journal article
Jenkins, Natasha, Smith, Gavin, Stewart, Scott and Kamphuis, Catherine. (2021). Pre-employment physical capacity testing as a predictor of musculoskeletal injury in Victorian paramedics. Work. 70(1), pp. 263-270. https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-213570
Authors | Jenkins, Natasha, Smith, Gavin, Stewart, Scott and Kamphuis, Catherine |
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Abstract | BACKGROUND:Paramedic work has periods of intermittent high physical demand, a risk of workplace injury, may be confounded by inherent fitness of the paramedic. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to identify the nature of workplace musculoskeletal injury, and determine if there was a relationship between pre-employment physical capacity testing (PEPCT) scores and risk of workplace musculoskeletal injury within the paramedic industry. METHODS:A retrospective case review using PEPCT scores and workplace injury (WI) manual handling data collected from 2008 to 2015 by an Australian pre-hospital emergency care provider (Ambulance Victoria), enabled comparison and analysis of two distinct data sets. RESULTS:A total of 538 paramedics were included for analysis with 34 paramedics reporting a workplace musculoskeletal injury from manual handling. The mean time to injury from commencement of employment was 395.4 days (SD 516.2). Female paramedics represented 53.0%and male paramedics represented 47%of the sample. Mean total PEPCT score for the entire sample was 19.1 (SD 2.9) with a range from 16.2–22, while for those reporting injuries it was 18.3 (SD 2.6) with a range from 15.7–20.9. CONCLUSIONS:Musculoskeletal injury amongst Victorian paramedics is more prevalent where the paramedic is female, and/or within three years of commencement of employment. The PEPCT score did not differentiate those at risk of subsequent injury. |
Keywords | workplace injury; prehospital emergency health care; predictive assessment |
Year | 2021 |
Journal | Work |
Journal citation | 70 (1), pp. 263-270 |
Publisher | IOS Press |
ISSN | 1051-9815 |
Digital Object Identifier (DOI) | https://doi.org/10.3233/WOR-213570 |
Scopus EID | 2-s2.0-85116360567 |
Research or scholarly | Research |
Page range | 263-270 |
Publisher's version | License All rights reserved File Access Level Controlled |
Output status | Published |
Publication dates | |
Online | 28 Sep 2021 |
Publication process dates | |
Accepted | 01 Nov 2020 |
Deposited | 25 May 2022 |
https://acuresearchbank.acu.edu.au/item/8xx3w/pre-employment-physical-capacity-testing-as-a-predictor-of-musculoskeletal-injury-in-victorian-paramedics
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